"How to: win an argument defend a case recognize a fallacy see through deception persuade a skeptic turn defeat into victory."
Includes bibliographical references (pages 263-264) and index.
Preface -- Introduction -- What is logic? -- What is an argument? -- When is an argument acceptable? -- Summary and exercises -- 1. Identifying arguments -- Arguments -- Difficulties in identifying arguments -- Grammar, punctuation, and reading comprehension -- Rules for identifying premises and conclusions -- Summary and exercises -- 2. Formal analysis of arguments -- The ideal of logic -- Syllogisms -- Rules for valid syllogisms -- Soundness and informal logic -- Summary and exercises -- 3. Presenting your case -- Gaining a sympathetic audience -- Presenting the facts -- Driving home the conclusion -- Nonverbal devices -- Advertising as a case study -- Summary and exercises -- 4. Attacking an argument -- Audience reaction -- Anatomy of refutation -- Attacking the conclusion -- Face-to-face debate -- Summary and exercises -- 5. Defending your case -- Counterattack -- Winning the argument -- Going for a tie -- Summary and exercises -- 6. 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" -- Summary and exercises -- Appendix -- Critical reading skills -- Review exercises -- Some suggestions for further reading -- Index.
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"In this fully updated and revised edition, coauthors Nicolas Capaldi and Miles Smith take an original approach to teaching critical thinking. By cataloging and outlining for readers tactics on how to develop the skills of deception and manipulation, the authors demonstrate that this is a foolproof way to avoid falling for the fallacious and fuzzy logic of others. They also show how to improve our own deficits in making careful decisions about our word choices, why we hold the opinions that we do, and how we form arguments. Readers will learn to apply these skills to everyday situations, whether debating politics with friends or evaluating the pitch of a persuasive salesman."--Jacket.