Good Reasoning Matters!: A Constructive Approach to Critical Thinking

490 Pages·2004·12.78 MB·English

by  Leo A. Groarke

Reasonin
A Constructive
Approach to
Critical Thinkin
Third Edition
Leo A. Groarke &
Good Reasoning Matters!
A Constructive Approach to Critical Thinking
Third Edition
New technology has revolutionized the way most of us receive and process information. We are
inundated with messages conveyed by everything from radio, television, and the Internet to
billboards and bumper stickers. Designed to develop the skills students need to respond effec
tively to those messages—verbal and non-verbal alike—Good Reasoning Mailers! offers a
unique approach to critical thinking that emphasizes not just how to evaluate arguments but
how to construct them.
In addition to examining the most common features of faulty reasoning. Good Reasoning,
Mailers! introduces students to a variety of argument schemes and rhetorical techniques th.n
will help them craft arguments for any audience, specific or universal'. Exercises and exam
ples from a variety of sources encourage students to consider views and perspectives they might
not otherwise be exposed to.
With abundant new material supplementing the most popular features of earlier editions. Good
Reasoning Matters.' is an essential text for courses in critical reasoning.
This third edition of Good Reasoning Matters.' offers
• a clear, cumulative introduction to the principles of good reasoning;
• a wide variety of arguments drawn from both classical and contemporary sources;
• significant new discussion of non-verbal—especially visual—arguments:
• a practical, applied focus with more exercises in every chapter,
• more answers to in-tcxt exercises: and
• a companion website (www.oup.com/ca/he/companion/groarketindale) with
additional resources for both instructors and students.
LEO A. GROARKI is professor of philosophy and dean of the Brantford Campus of Wilfrid
Laurier University.
CHRISTOPHI-R W. TIMVU i is professor of philosophy at Trent University.
ISBN 0-l1-S«l10<«-1
OXTORD
UNIVBRSITY PRBSS
9
Good Reasoning Matters!

Good
Reasoning
Matters!
A Constructive
Approach to
Critical Thinking
T h i rd E d i t i on
Leo A. Groarke & Christopher W. Tindale
OXFORD
UNIVERSITY PRESS
1904^2004
IOO YEARS OF
CANADIAN PUBLISHING
OXPORD
UNIVERSITY PRESS
70 Wynford Drive, Don Mills, Ontario M3C 1J9
www.oup.com/ca
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Published in Canada
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Copyright © Oxford University Press Canada 2004
The moral rights of the author have been asserted
Database right Oxford University Press (maker)
First published 2004
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
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and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer.
Every attempt has been made to determine and contact copyright holders.
In the case of any omissions, the publisher will be pleased to make suitable
acknowledgement in future editions.
National Library of Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Groarke, Leo
Good reasoning matters! : a constructive approach to critical
thinking / Leo A. Groarke, Christopher W. Tindale. —3rd ed.
Includes index.
First ed. by J. Frederick Little, Leo Groarke and Christopher Tindale.
ISBN 0-19-541904-9
1. Reasoning. I. Tindale, Christopher W. (Christopher William)
II. Little, J. Frederick. Good reasoning matters. III. Title.
BC177.G76 2004 168 C 200 3-906416-6
1 2 3 4 - 07 06 05 04
Cover Design: Joan Dempsey
Cover Images: Digital Vision
This book is printed on permanent (acid-free) paper @.
Printed in Canada
CONTENTS
Introduction xi
Acknowledgements xvii
1 GETTING STARTED: Looking for an Argument 1
1. Arguments 2
2. An Example 3
Exercise 1A 4
3. Arguers, Audiences, and Opponents 5
4. Simple and Extended Arguments 9
Exercise IB 11
5. Distinguishing Arguments from Non-arguments 13
Exercise 1C 18
6. Arguments and Explanations 20
7. Argument Narratives 24
Exercise ID 25
Major Exercise 1M 27
2 ARGUMENT DIAGRAMS: Pointing the Way 3 3
1. Argument Diagrams 33
2. Linked and Convergent Premises 38
3. Supplemented Diagrams 42
Exercise 2A 44
4. Diagramming Your Own Arguments 46
Exercise 2B 47
Mcz/or Exercise 2M 48
VI CONTENTS
3 IMPLICIT ARGUMENT COMPONENTS: Filling in the Blanks 51
1. Speech Acts and the Principles of Communication 52
Exercise 3A 56
2. Abbreviated Arguments 56
Exercise 3B 64
3. Non-verbal Elements in Argument 65
Exercise 3C 77
4. A Note on Argument Construction 77
Exercise 3D 78
Major Exercise 3M 78
4 DEFINITIONS: Saying What You Mean 83
1. Using Words Precisely 84
Exercise 4A 86
2. Vagueness and Ambiguity 87
Exercise 4B 91
3. Formulating Definitions 93
4. Rules for Good Definitions 97
Exercise 4C 100
5. Expressing Your Intended Meaning 103
Major Exercise 4M 104
5 BIAS: Reading Between the Lines 109
1. Bias and Perspective 109
Exercise 5A 116
2. Detecting Illegitimate Biases 116
Exercise 5B 126
Major Exercise 5 M 127
6 STRONG AND WEAK ARGUMENTS: Preparing for Evaluations 13 3
1. Strong Arguments 134
2. Argument Criticism 137
3. Acceptability 138
4. Valid and Invalid Arguments 139
Exercise 6A 142
5. Argument Schemes 144
6. Invalid Arguments 147
Major Exercise 6M 150
7 SYLLOGISMS I: Classifying Arguments 156
1. Categorical Statements 157
Exercise 7A 161
2. Immediate Inferences 162
Exercise 7B 166
CONTENTS VII
3. Categorical Syllogisms 166
Exercise 7C 169
4. Venn Diagrams 170
Major Exercise 7M 180
8 SYLLOGISMS II: Testing Classes 185
1. Full Schematization 185
2. Rules of Validity 187
3. Applying the Rules 188
4. Procedural Points 190
Major Exercise 8M 192
9 PROPOSITIONAL LOGIC I: Some Ifs, Ands, and Buts 195
1. Simple and Complex Propositions 196
Exercise 9A 203
2. Translation 204
Exercise 9B 208
3. Propositional Schemes and Proofs 210
Exercise 9C 219
Major Exercise 9M 222
10 PROPOSITIONAL LOGIC II: Conditionals, Dilemmas,
and Reductios 226
1. Conditional Proofs 226
Exercise 10A 229
2. Reductio ad Absurdum 229
Exercise 10B 232
3. Dilemmas 232
Exercise 10C 236
4. De Morgan's Laws 237
Exercise 10D 238
5. Summary: Rules of Inference 238
Major Exercise 10M 239
11 ORDINARY REASONING: Assessing the Basics 247
1. Ordinary Reasoning 248
2. Acceptability 250
Exercise 11A 263
3. Relevance 265
Exercise 1 IB 272
4. Sufficiency 274
Exercise 11C 277
5. Applying the Criteria 278
Major Exercise 11M 281
VIII CONTENTS
12 EMPIRICAL SCHEMES OF ARGUMENT: Nothing but the Facts 286
1. Generalizations 287
Exercise 12A 293
2. Polling 294
Exercise 12B 300
3. Causal Reasoning 302
Exercise 12C 311
4. Appeals to Ignorance 313
Exercise 12D 315
5. The Methods of Science 315
Exercise 12E 321
Major Exercise 12M 322
13 MORAL AND POLITICAL REASONING: Schemes of Value 329
1. Slippery-Slope Arguments 330
Exercise 13A 334
2. Arguments from Analogy 335
Exercise BB 340
3. Appeals to Precedent 342
Exercise BC 344
4. Two-Wrongs Reasoning 345
Exercise 13D 353
Major Exercise 13M 354
14 ETHOTIC SCHEMES: Judging Character 359
1. ProHomine 360
Exercise 14A 362
2. Ac/ Populum Arguments 362
Exercise 14B 363
3. Arguments from Authority 364
Exercise 14C 369
4. Ac/ Hominem 369
Exercise 14D 372
5. Arguments against Authority 372
Exercise 14E 374
6. Guilt (and Honour) by Association 374
Exercise 14F 377
7. Other Cases 378
Exercise 14G 380
Major Exercise 14M 380