Philosophy

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Informal Logic, 3/E
Irving M. Copi
Keith Burgess-Jackson, University of Texas, Arlington

ISBN-10: 0132290480
ISBN-13: 9780132290487

Publisher: Prentice Hall
Copyright: 1996
Format: Paper; 314 pp
Published: 09/25/1995
Status: Instock

Suggested retail price: $126.60
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Appropriate for single-semester undergraduate courses in Critical Thinking, Informal Logic, Introduction to Logic, Communication, Science and Human Values, Rhetoric and Logic.

The aim of Informal Logic, Third Edition is to teach basic critical, analytical and reasoning skills through the examination of arguments and explanations as they appear in natural language. While retaining the topical organization of the previous edition, much of the text has been rewritten to expand coverage and enhance clarity.

includes a completely rewritten chapter on fallacies that replaces coverage of formal fallacies with that of twenty informal fallacies divided into four sections, each with a set of exercises.
- emphasizes those fallacies that are committed most often

offers a rewritten chapter on causation, containing a new discussion of Mill's methods of experimental inquiry that is both true to Mill's intentions and relevant to contemporary scientific research.

conveys concepts in a clear, concise manner with full definitions and distinctions and easy-to-understand arguments.
- makes even the most difficult topics thoroughly accessible

provides up-to-date diagrams, flowcharts and other graphical aids to portray difficult concepts and distinctions.

develops a technique for diagramming arguments to illuminate the structure of reasoning.

contains hundreds of current examples and exercises drawn from a variety of topics and sources designed to challenge readers' comprehension.

demonstrates the practical usefulness of critical and analytical skills.
- offers an appendix that contains complete solutions to every fifth exercise

elaborate and helpful solutions to every fifth exercise with the remaining exercises solved in the accompanying solutions manual.

1. Introduction.

The nature and utility of logic. Premises and conclusions. Diagrams for single arguments. Recognizing arguments. Passages expressing several arguments. Deduction and Induction. Truth, validity, and soundness. The use of reason in problem solving.

2. Language.

Functions of language. Discourse serving multiple functions. Forms of discourse. Emotive words. Kinds of agreement and disagreement. Emotively neutral language.

3. Fallacies.

The nature and classification of fallacies. Common informal fallacies. Passages for analysis.

4. Definition.

Purposes of definition. Types of definition. Kinds of meaning. Techniques for defining. Rules for definition by genus and difference.

5. Analogy.

Uses of analogy. Evaluating analogical arguments. Refutation by logical analogy.

6. Causal Connections: Mill's Methods of Experimental Inquiry.

The nature of causation. Mill's methods. The alleged circularity of Mill's methods.

7. Science and Hypothesis.

Values and disvalues of science. Explanations: scientific and nonscientific. Evaluating scientific explanations. The detective as scientist. Scientists in action: the pattern of scientific investigation. Crucial experiments and ad hoc hypotheses. Classification as hypothesis.

Solutions to Selected Exercises.

Index.

Informal Logic (Philosophy)
Critical Thinking (Philosophy)

Discipline & Course Resources

Common Philosophical Terms
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