Beyond Feelings: A Guide to Critical Thinking

<H3> Preface <H3> Introduction<H2> PART I. THE CONTEXT <H3> 1. Who Are You?<h4>The Influence of Time and Place<h4>The Influence of Ideas<h4>The Influence of Mass Culture<h4>The "Science" of Manipulation<h4>The Influence of Psychology<h4>Becoming an Individual<H3> 2. What Is Critical Thinking?<h4>Mind, Brain, or Both?<h4>Critical Thinking Defined<h4>Characteristics of Critical Thinkers<h4>The Role of Intuition<h4>The Basic Activities of Critical Thinking<h4>Critical Thinking and Writing<h4>Critical Thinking and Discussion<h4>Avoiding Plagiarism<H3> 3. What Is Truth?<h4>Where Does It All Begin?<h4>Imperfect Perception<h4>Imperfect Memory<h4>Deficient Information<h4>Even the Wisest Can Err<h4>Truth Is Discovered, Not Created<H3> 4. What Does It Mean to Know?<h4>Requirements of Knowing<h4>Testing Your Own Knowledge<h4>How We Come to Know<h4>Why Knowing is Difficult<h4>A Cautionary Tail<h4>Is Faith a Form of Knowledge<h4>Obstacles to Knowledge<H3> 5. How Good Are Your Opinions?<h4>Opinions Can Be Mistaken<h4>Opinions on Moral Issues<h4>Even Experts Can Be Wrong<h4>Kinds of Errors<h4>Informed Versus Uninformed Opinion<h4>Forming Opinions Responsibly<H3> 6. What Is Evidence?<h4>Kinds of Evidence<h4>Evaluating Evidence<h4>What Constitutes "Sufficient" Evidence?<H3> 7. What Is Argument?<h4>The Parts of an Argument<h4>Evaluating Arguments<h4>More Difficult Arguments<H2> PART II. THE PITFALLS<H3> 8. The Basic Problem: "Mine Is Better"<h4>Egocentric People<h4>Ethnocentric People<h4>Controlling "Mine-Is-Better" Thinking<H3> 9. Errors of Perspective<h4>Poverty of Aspect<h4>Unwarranted Assumptions<h4>The Either/Or Outlook<h4>Mindless Conformity<h4>Absolutism<h4>Relativism<h4>Bias For or Against Change<H3> 10. Errors of Procedure<h4>Biased Consideration of Evidence<h4>Double Standard<h4>Hasty Conclusion<h4>Overgeneralization and Stereotyping<h4>Oversimplification<h4>The Post Hoc Fallacy<H3> 11. Errors of Expression<h4>Contradiction<h4>Arguing in a Circle<h4>Meaningless Statement<h4>Mistaken Authority<h4>False Analogy<h4>Irrational Appeal<H3> 12. Errors of Reaction<h4>Automatic Rejection<h4>Changing the Subject<h4>Shifting the Burden of Proof<h4>"Straw Man"<h4>Attacking the Critic<H3> 13. The Errors in Combination<h4>Errors of Perspective<h4>Errors of Procedure<h4>Errors of Expression<h4>Errors of Reaction<h4>Sample Combinations of Errors<h4>A Sensible View of Terminology<H2> PART III. A STRATEGY<H3> 14. Knowing Yourself<h4>Critical Thinking Inventory<h4>Using Your Inventory<h4>Challenge and Reward<H3> 15. Being Observant<h4>Observing People<h4>Observation in Science and Medicine<h4>The Range of Application<h4>Becoming More Observant<h4>Reflecting Your Observations<H3> 16. Selecting an Issue<h4>The Basic Rule: Less Is More<h4>How to Limit an Issue<h4>Sample Issue: Pornography<h4>Sample Issue: Boxing<h4>Sample Issue: Juvenile Crime<h4>Narrowing the Issue Further<H3> 17. Conducting Inquiry<h4>Working with Inconclusive Results<h4>Where to Look for Information<h4>Keeping Focused<h4>How Much Inquiry is Enough?<h4>Managing Lengthy Material<H3> 18. Forming a Judgment<h4>Evaluating Evidence<h4>Evaluating Your Sources' Arguments<h4>Making Important Distinctions<h4>Expressing Judgments<H3> 19. Persuading Others<h4>Guidelines for Persuasion<h4>An Unpersuasive Presentation<h4>A Persuasive Presentation<H3> Notes<H3> Index