The Art of Deception: An Introduction to Critical Thinking : How to : Win an Argument, Defend a Case, Recognize a Fallacy, See Through a Deception, (Paperback)

by Nicholas Capaldi (Author) "Sometimes the best way in which to explain something is to tell what that something is not..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York City, Side One, Side Two (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about intellectual self-defence. It should be on every student's book shelf, and on every educators list of recommended reading." -- Dr Jason Braithwaite, Behavioural Brain Sciences Centre, University of Birmingham. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description
You, too, can learn how to win an argument, defend your case, recognize faulty reasoning, see through deceptive ploys, persuade skeptics, and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Using examples from everyday life, Dr. Capaldi shows how critical thinking can work for you. 2 cassettes. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 222 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books; Revised edition (December 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879754249
• ISBN-13: 978-0879754242
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #153,362 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

109 of 119 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Other books on the subject are better, June 11, 2002

By	Bernard M. Patten "Book worm" (Seabrook, TX United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Who open scroll always profit says an ancient Chinese motto. The same applies to books. I profited from reading this one, but I didn't profit much or enough. The work is uneven and needs focus. The title is poor because it misnames the subject of the book which is, incidentally, not how to win an anrgument, but how to think clearly. Some of the author's points would have passed me by and probably other points would have been downright confusing had I not had a background in logic. And one wonders about a book on the Art of Deception deceiving people into believing that the book is one thing when it is really about something else. Perhaps some well meaning editior or PR person mispersuaded the author to use this fake and phony title in the hope of increased sales. A few bones: I don't like the word argument because of its two meanings. Demonstration is better. The formal analysis of arguments (my demonstrations) in chapter three hits the reader on the head: Although it is technically correct, without a background in formal logic you might get lost fast. The chapter could have done better explaining the differences between contraries and contradictions and the reasons for the other errors which are never clearly stated. The author just assumes the reader will get it when I have a feeling derived from teaching logic for years that they won't and don't. For intstance, why the undistributed middle term invalidates a proof is clear to me only because I knew it from previous studies, and thought long and hard about it, not from what the author says here in his book. And the worst sin of all: Somewhere in the middle of the discussion of groupthink, the author seems to get bored with his own discussion. No wonder the reader nods off. Those interested in improving their critical thinking should read Asking the Right Questions. Those interested in understanding errors in logic might consult The Art of Argument by St. Aubyn, a book that hits hard where we need improvement by showing us the common errors of thinking of overgeneralization, false analogy, vague definition, and partial selection of the evidence.

65 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Practical Introduction to Informal Logic, April 27, 2000

By	Michael J Webb (Miami, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This book is one of those cases where the title really does sum up the nature of the book. This book is everything that its title implies.

If you are looking for a quick read (perhaps you have a tough debate tomorrow) on how to recognize fallacies, present arguments and a basic introduction into informal logic then you will like this book (in fact, in this case, I would highly recommend it). If, however, you are seeking a formal introduction to the theoretical framework of logic then maybe "Introduction to Logic" by Copi is better suited to your needs.

Overall, this book fulfilled its purpose. You'll do well in your tough debate after reading this book.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ONE: INTRODUCTION. What is Logic? What is an Argument? When is an Argument Acceptable?

TWO: IDENTIFYING ARGUMENTS. Arguments. Difficulties in Identifying Arguments. Grammar, Punctuation , and Reading Comprehension. Rules for Identifying Premises and Conclusions.

THREE: FORMAL ANALYSIS OF ARGUMENTS. Idal of Logic. Syllogisms. Rules for Valid Syllogisms. Soundness and Informal Logic.

FOUR: PRESENTING YOUR CASE. Gaining a Sympathetic Audience. Presenting the Facts. Driving Home the Conclusion. Nonverbal Devices. Advertising as a Case Study.

FIVE: ATTACKING AN ARGUMENT. Audience Reaction. Anatomy of Refutation. Attacking the Conclusion. Face-to-Face Debate.

SIX: DEFENDING YOUR CASE. Counterattack. Winning the Argument. Going for a Tie.

SEVEN: CAUSE-AND-EFFECT REASONING. History of the Concept of 'Causation'. Hume's Definition of Cause and Effect. Causal Reasoning as Practical. Mill's Methods. Fallacies of Causal Reasoning. Problems with the Concept of 'Causation'.

Good luck!

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good Intentions, Faulty Execution, March 18, 2004

By	Akim (Detroit) - See all my reviews

I appreciate what the author was trying to do: teach logic and rhetoric in a fun how-to-succeed format. I don't think it works very well, though. It's too disjointed to be helpful to the beginner and too familiar to be interesting to more advanced students.

For the beginner: To learn logic, start out with David Kelley's "The Art of Reasoning" and Irving Copi's "Introduction to Logic". To learn rhetoric and argumentation, try David Zarefsky's audiotape course on "Argumentation: The Study of Effective Reasoning" and his books on public speaking.

More advanced students will want to check out Chaim Perelman's books on rhetoric and Douglas N. Walton's studies of informal fallacies. An excellent but out-of-print book is William J. Brandt's "The Rhetoric of Argumentation" which gives detailed analyses of effective and ineffective rhetorical strategies in essay-writing.