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the
course:
In this course we will study the basic skills of good reasoning and the proper method of identifying, interpreting, and evaluating arguments. Even more important will be our ability to evaluate attempts at argument--attempts one typically sees in the political and news media of our times. Our goal, in short, will be the ability to distinguish between argument and mere exhortation. Topics will include: argument structure and identification, validity and strength of arguments, Aristotle's formal and material fallacies of reasoning, the use and abuse of language in reasoning, and principles of fair play in argumentation. We will also explore the sociological implications of critical thinking as a cultural value for modern democracies.
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