Readings in Critical Thinking

Readings in Critical Thinking demonstrates that critical thinking skills have very practical applications, and therefore can be used to better society. The text encourages readers to find solutions to societal problems and motivates them to take a stand against oppression, injustice, unnecessary wars, and other evils. It argues that if society can collectively adopt an effective method of reasoning, it will result in a positive contribution to humanity.

Each of the ten chapters begins with an original writing that introduces the topic and the reading selection. Topics covered in the text include argument diagrams, deductive validity, syllogistic logic, inductive reasoning, fallacies, definitions, incomplete arguments, and reasoning schemes. All chapters conclude with exercises that give students the opportunity to apply what they have read.

Readings in Critical Thinking is an excellent text for introductory courses in philosophy and logic.

Robert Shanab earned his M.A. at San Jose College and his Ph.D. at Ohio State University, Columbus. Dr. Shanab is a professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he teaches courses in philosophy and critical thinking. He has written numerous articles for professional publications, with work appearing in Philosophy Forum, International Logic Review, the Journal of Critical Analysis, and Philosophical Review. Fluent in French and Arabic, Dr. Shanab has also published in The Pakistan Philosophical Journal and the Academy of Iqbal Review. Dr. Shanab was born in Jerusalem, Palestine, and lived there until moving to the United States in 1957.