Critical
Thinking
PHI
1103-004 J.J. Kelly
Fall
2004
Office:
M,W
HMS,
Rm. 320 e-mail:
jjkelly@helios.acomp.usf.edu
Course
Description: The purpose of this course is to introduce to the student the
fundamentals of sound reasoning; i.e., methods of analyzing arguments, skills
pertinent to organizing ideas and the careful consideration of evidence. The
focus will be on what constitutes a sound judgment.
Texts:
Required:
John Chaffee, Thinking Critically, seventh ed.
Recommended: Paul Edwards, ed., Encyclopedia
of Philosophy
Paul Edwards and Arthur Pap, ed., A Modern
Introduction to Philosophy
Course Requirements: Three tests: the first to
consist of 18% of the over-all grade, the second to consist of 22% of the
over-all grade, and the third to consist of 22% of the over-all grade; a
take-home final to consist of 28%. Attendance is compulsory, counting toward
10% of the over-all course grade. Class participation is strongly
recommended. It is required that you read what is assigned to you for a given
date before coming to class on that date.
BASICS
Weeks 1-2
Analysis: (Ch. 2: Questions p. 64, p.101)
Week 3:
Solving Problems: (Ch.3: Thinking activity 3.4)
Week 4-5: Perception: (Ch. 4 Thinking activity
4.3; questions for analysis p. 180, 191) QUIZ
Week 5-6 Belief and Knowledge: (Questions for
analysis pp. 204, 231, 248)
Week 6-7
Language: (Thinking activity and questions for analysis pp.267, 263)
Week 8-9
Language (cont.): (Questions for analysis pp. 300, 309)
Week 10: Concepts: (Questions for analysis pp.
327, 339, 355) QUIZ
Week 11: Inference:
(Questions for analysis pp.361, 403)
Week 12: Inference (cont.): (Questions for
analysis pp. 414, 447)
THE NATURE OF ARGUMENT
Week 13: Deductive arguments: (Questions for
analysis pp. 459, 502; Thinking activity 10.3, 10.4) QUIZ
Week 14: Inductive arguments: (Questions for
analysis pp. 537, 569) FINAL
A note on plagiarism: Under no circumstances is plagiarism permissible. Refer to the official university policy in the USF student handbook for particulars.