Critical Reasoning and Philosophy

A Concise Guide to Reading, Evaluating, and Writing Philosophical Works

By (author) M. Andrew Holowchak

Publication date:

22 August 2011

Length of book:

164 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9781442205215

Critical Reasoning & Philosophy has been praised as an innovative and clearly written handbook that teaches new philosophy students how to read, evaluate, and write in a critical manner. Concise, accessible language and ample use of examples and study modules help students gain the basic knowledge necessary to succeed in undergraduate philosophy courses, and to apply that knowledge to achieve success in other disciplines as well. With a reorganized presentation, fresh modules, new examples and illustrations, the second edition is even more clear and accessible to students.

Preface
Acknowledgements
Part I: Introductory Concerns
Module 1: What is Philosophy?
Module 2: Philosophy & Critical Reasoning
Part II: Reading Philosophy
Module 3: General Form of a Philosophical Work
Module 4: Four Helpful Steps
Part III: Evaluating Philosophy
Section A: Argument Recognition & Reconstruction
Module 5: Elements of Argument Recognition
Module 6: Standard Argument Form
Section B: Argument Evaluation
Module 7: Setting the Logical Boundaries
Module 8: Conditions of Acceptance & Rejection
Module 9: Three Common Deductive Arguments
Module 10: Common Inductive Arguments
Module 11: Common Fallacies
Section C: Reconstruction through Diagramming
Module 12: Fundamentals of Diagramming
Module 13: 10 Diagrammatical Tips
Part IV: Writing Philosophy
Section A: Preliminaries for Philosophical Essays
Module 14: 13 General Tips for Writing
Module 15: Tips of Avoidance
Module 16: Common Mistakes
Section B: Writing Philosophical Essays
Module 17: Preparing an Outline
Module 18: Writing a Philosophical Thesis
Module 19: Simple Critical Essay
Module 20: Synthetic Critical Essay
Section C: Revising & Rewriting Philosophical Essays
Module 21: Motivating a Rewrite
Module 22: Suggestions for Revising and Rewriting Essays
Appendices
Appendix A: Some Exercises for Diagramming
Appendix B: Teacher/Student Comment Sheet
Appendix C: Plan-for-Revision Sheet
List of Sources Cited

This clearly written manual aims to teach students in introductory courses some fundamental critical reasoning techniques for reading and writing philosophic materials. Though written for budding philosophers, this book will also benefit those undergraduates who want to write concise, tightly argued papers. Recommended.