Analysing Informal Fallacies 1st (first) Edition by Engel, S. Morris published by Prentice Hall (1980) 5.0 out of 5 stars 1. Unknown Binding. Only 1 left in stock - order soon. With good reason: An introduction to informal fallacies S. Arguments A Bit of Logic Source of some examples: S. Morris Engel, With Good Reason. Morris Engel 4.10 Rating details 134 ratings 14 reviews A concise, easy-to-read introduction to informal logic, With Good Reason offers both comprehensive coverage of informal fallacies and an abundance of engaging examples of both well-conceived and faulty arguments.
Source of some examples: S. Morris Engel, With Good Reason. What is an argument? The private is just as good as the general; the file clerk is just as good as the corporate executive. We are all equal. Circularity We commit this fallacy when we affirm that A is the case because of B, but B turns out to be.
Professor Engel tries to make informal fallacies and basic logic concepts available to the ordinary person. He is superbly successful at this, and entertaining. Engel includes a lot of comics along the way to illustrate what he teaches. Informal logical fallacies are the focus of With Good Reason, but before teaching them, he touches on the basic concepts of logical reasoning. Engel shows a special interest in how language influences the way we think. He believes informal fallacies are basically errors in language which confuse our thinking.
This text is popular in college critical thinking courses.
Publisher: St. Martins Press
Subjects Covered: Argument evaluation, basic logic concepts, language, logical fallacies, essay writing
Self-teaching: ***** Easy to understand explanations, many exercises
Suggested Ages: 15-adult
Thoroughness: Thorough treatment of informal fallacies
Best Features: Practical & easy explanations & exercises
Worst Features: Answers to 1/3 of exercises
Copyright April 09, 2000, all rights reserved. 10555 views
With Good Reason: An Introduction to Informal Fallacies is an outstanding resource for high school students for critical thinking, although the price is a bit high. It covers some of the same concepts as books such as The Fallacy Detective, but it’s better for older teens. It begins with “definitions,” but even this potentially-boring foundational information is presented with touches of humor that make it both entertaining and interesting. Each brief section is followed by a summary of key points and practice exercises. Answers to a few selected questions are at the end of each section, but parents will need to read along to be able to discuss exercise questions and figure out answers to those for which none are provided--not that difficult a task. (Parents without a background in logic will find that reading this book is time well spent!)
Among topics dealt with in the first section are arguments and nonarguments, missing components, syllogisms, truth, validity, soundness, and deductive and inductive arguments.
The next section deals with language as a medium of communication. It gets into topics such as implied and actual meanings of words, ambiguity, and vagueness. Information here will be valuable to those who want to become more skillful communicators.
The bulk of the book deals with the “fun stuff”—informal fallacies. These fallacies are divided into three general sections: fallacies of ambiguity, presumption, and relevance. Under each section we encounter the more familiar labels such as begging the question, special pleading, ad hominem attacks, mob appeal, appeals to authority, etc. There are plenty of examples and exercises plus the occasional cartoon for illustration.
An appendix at the end titled “Writing with Clarity and Reason” explains how writing an essay is much like presenting an argument. It offers excellent ideas on structuring and presenting essays.
With Good Reason By Morris Engel Sixth Edition
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This book is broader in scope than The Fallacy Detective, but it is written for an adult, non-Christian audience. Nevertheless, it should be suitable for mature Christian teens.