Think with Socrates: An Introduction to Critical Thinking

by Paul Herrick

Overview

Brief yet comprehensive, Think with Socrates: An Introduction to Critical Thinking uses the methods, ideas, and life of Socrates as a model for critical thinking. It offers a more philosophical, historical, and accessible introduction than longer textbooks while still addressing all of the key topics in logic and argumentation. Applying critical thinking to the Internet, mass media, advertising, personal experience, expert authority, the evaluation of sources, writing argumentative essays, and forming a worldview, Think with Socrates resonates with today's students and teaches them how to apply critical thinking in the real world. At the same time, it covers the ancient intellectual roots and history of the field, placing critical thinking in its larger context to help students appreciate its perennial value.

Author Paul Herrick incorporates original sources from newspapers, a variety of media, and philosophical writing, along with engaging "interludes" featuring selections from Plato's dialogues. A Companion Website at www.oup.com/us/herrick offers resources for students and instructors.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199331864
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	07/30/2014
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	432
Sales rank:	746,332
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Paul Herrick received his PhD in philosophy from the University of Washington. Since 1983 he has taught philosophy at Shoreline Community College. He is the author of two previous books published by Oxford University Press: Introduction to Logic (2012) and The Many Worlds of Logic, Second Edition (1999).

Table of Contents

, Dedication, Preface, AcknowledgmentsUnit 1. What Is Critical Thinking?Chapter 1. Socrates Part 1: Life and MethodAppendix. An Excerpt from The CloudsChapter 2. Socrates Part 2: Life and DeathChapter 3. On Socrates's Two Favorite QuestionsInterlude: Socrates at WorkPart 1. The EuthyphroPart 2. The ApologyUnit 2. Obstacles to Critical ThinkingChapter 4. Cognitive BiasesAppendix. Critical Thinking in Dickens's A Christmas CarolChapter 5. Relativism and SkepticismUnit 3. Build a Solid Knowledge BaseChapter 6. Reason and the SensesChapter 7. Personal Experience, Testimony, and Expert AuthorityChapter 8. Watch Out for Logical FallaciesInterlude: Critical Thinking and FreedomChapter 9. The Internet, News Media, and AdvertisingInterlude: The Myth of the CaveUnit 4. Criteria for Correct ReasoningChapter 10. Deduction and Induction: A Closer LookChapter 11. Explorations in Inductive Reasoning: The Logic of Science, Appendix. Elementary Probability TheoryInterlude: Critical Thinking and the Birth of Modern ScienceChapter 12. Explorations in Deductive Reasoning: Categorical Logic, Appendix 1. Testing Syllogisms Using Rules, Appendix 2. How an Idea in Logic Led to the Digital Computer and Transformed the WorldUnit 5. Moral Reasoning, Worldviews, and the Examined LifeChapter 13. Critical Thinking and Moral ReasoningChapter 14. Critical Thinking, Worldviews, and the Examined Life, Epilogue, Answers to Selected Exercises, Glossary, Index

Editorial Reviews

"For a critical thinking course, I would adopt this book in a heartbeat. I would also consider using it as a supplemental text in Introduction to Philosophy. The basic idea of teaching critical thinking as illustrated in the Socratic dialogues is excellent. Herrick writes in a lucid, entertaining, accessible style that will hold students' attention."—Andrew V. Jeffery, Green River Community College and Pierce College

"It's the framing of the critical thinking course as a philosophy course that attracts me to Think with Socrates—a critical thinking book that gets back to doing philosophy."—Ed Pluth, California State University, Chico

"It's remarkably clever to use Socrates in this way, especially with the full text of the Euthyphro in the middle."—Russell DiSilvestro, California State University, Sacramento

From the Publisher