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Title: Attacking Faulty Reasoning: A Practical Guide to Fallacy-Free Arguments by T. Edward Damer ISBN: 0-534-55133-5 Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing Pub. Date: 14 June, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $45.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.3 (10 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: A Unified Theory of Fallacies and Arguments
Comment: This is one of the first texts on critical thinking to incorporate traditional logical fallacies in a unified theory of fallacies and arguments. Damer lists four criteria of a "good argument," then defines a "fallacy" as a violation of one or more of these criteria. He then groups all of the traditional fallacies by the criterion that they violate. Thus, the readers are not just learning a list of fallacies in an intellectual vaccuum; they are learning a holistic system that makes sense intuitively and logically, and will enable them not only to critique flawed arguments, but to construct logically sound arguments of their own.
Damer also includes "A Code of Conduct for Effective Rational Discussion," twelve principles for civilized, intelligent discussion of issues. These twelve principles include the four criteria of a good argument, thus connecting all the ideas of the book in one logical and easily understood structure. It's noteworthy that the author includes a discussion of ethics, and the "right" and "wrong" way to argue. He even has strategies on how to point out flawed arguments without being judgemental or intellectually condescending. Knowledge is power, after all, and intellectual might doesn't necessarily make right.
It's refreshing to see a critical thinking text acknowledge the ethical responsibility that comes with superior critical thinking skills. Damer takes this responsibility very seriously, and encourages readers to seek truth over victory. This is apparent in the Code of Conduct, which includes "The Fallibility Principle," "The Truth-Seeking Principle," and "The Principle of Charity."
The author includes numerous, excellent examples of the fallacies, taken from a wide variety of contexts. He also gives examples of three different methods for attacking fallacies: logical deconstruction, counterexamples, and absurd examples. The absurd example is a particularly powerful method which is easy to understand and effective with even the most subtle fallacies. Damer excels in demonstrating this method with many effective examples.
If you only buy one book on critical thinking, make it this one! This is the closest thing I've seen to a critical thinking "Bible," incorporating ethical principles, and a practical definition of a good argument, and wrapping it all up with the traditional fallacies in a sensible and intuitive logical structure.
Rating: 5
Summary: The antidote for contradiction and controversy.
Comment: Damer pulls off a next to impossible task-naming, describing, exampling, and attacking 60 fallacies while structuring them neatly within four criteria of a good argument: relevance, acceptability, sufficient grounds and rebuttal. The last chapter discusses the specifics of "A Code of Conduct for Effective Rational Discussion." I used this test as a key element of my Ph.D. research and continue to use it in my later work. This should be required study for every politician and philosopher. A simpler version should be required study for every middle school and high school student. Discovering what is true would be so much easier with good arguments absence of fallacy. Be the first to rid your "neighborhood" of polemics. Study this book.
Rating: 3
Summary: Argument Karate
Comment: I found this book to be well written, but it is more a book of argument karate. It is written with the idea of both ends of an issue following a logic and rules. "Attacking Faulty Reasoning" is certianly thorough, however academic. I found Nicholas Capaldi's "Art of Deception" much more practical- critical thinking street fighting.
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Title: A Rulebook for Arguments by Anthony Weston ISBN: 0872205525 Publisher: Hackett Publishing Co. Pub. Date: January, 2001 List Price(USD): $5.95 |
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Title: Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking (6th Edition) by M. Neil Browne, Stuart M. Keeley ISBN: 0130891347 Publisher: Prentice Hall Pub. Date: 05 July, 2000 List Price(USD): $28.00 |
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Title: The Art of Deception: An Introduction to Critical Thinking: How to: Win an Argument, Defend a Case, Recognize a Fallacy, See Through a Deception, by Nicholas Capaldi ISBN: 0879754249 Publisher: Prometheus Books Pub. Date: December, 1987 List Price(USD): $21.00 |
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Title: Thinking from A to Z by Nigel Warburton ISBN: 0415222818 Publisher: Routledge Pub. Date: June, 2000 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Introduction to Logic by Irving M. Copi, Carl Cohen, Dark Alley Publishing ISBN: 0130749214 Publisher: Prentice Hall College Div Pub. Date: June, 2001 List Price(USD): $86.67 |
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