Philosophy 004

 Critical Thinking

 

  G. Randolph Mayes

    Department of Philosophy

    Sacramento State University

    Mendocino 3028

    mayesgr@csus.edu

 

Syllabus

Grades

Topic

Exercises

Assignments

Week 1

Reasoning

Logical Implication

Implication Practice

Exercises  for Implication vs. Suggestion

 

Week 2-3

Reasons and Practical Implication
Rationales

Rationale Practice I

Analysis 1

Week 4

Identifying Subject and Issue

Distinguishing Argument and Explanation

1st Person Propositional Attitude Statements

3rd Person Propositional Attitude Statements

Subject and Issue Practice

Argument Explanation Practice
Rationale Practice II

 

Week 5

Analyzing Arguments and Explanations

Analyzing Compound Reasoning

Compound Reasoning Practice

Analysis 2

Week 6

Identifying Principles

Identifying Instances

Principle  Practice

Instance Practice

Analysis 3

Week 7-8

Understanding Strength

Evaluating Reasons and Principles I: Truth vs. Reliability.

Evaluating Reasons and Principles  2

 Exercises for Evaluating Reasons and Principles

Analysis 4

Week 9

Understanding Relevance:  Straw Man,  Ad Hominem, Red Herring

The Principle of Charity

Exercises for Evaluating Relevance


Week 10-11

Understanding Formulation 1:  Contradiction, Equivocation

The Principle of Clarity

Logical Consistency and Contradiction

 

Exercises for Logical Consistency and Contradiction


Analysis 5

 

Week 12-13

Understanding Formulation 2:  False Alternatives, Circularity

Begging the Question

Exercises for Problems of Meaning and Begging the Question 


Analysis 6

 

Week 14-15

Causation

Exercises for Causal Fallacies

Analysis 7

Week 16

Final

Final

Final  Exam Schedule
 
 

  Course Tools

Analysis Practice

 

 Level

Worksheets

Answers

1

A  B  C

A  B  C

2

A  B  C

A  B  C

3

A  B  C

A  B  C

4

A  B  C

A  B  C

5

A  B  C

A  B  C

6

A  B  C

A  B  C

7

A  B  C

A  B  C

8

A  B  C

A  B  C

9

A  B  C

A  B  C

10

A  B  C

A  B  C