PHIL XX1 Critical Thinking

Spring Semester 2013 | Evening | Vancouver

INSTRUCTOR: K. Laird (klaird@sfu.ca)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

When an argument is presented, reasons are given that purport to support a claim. This course is an introduction to the evaluation of arguments as they are encountered in everyday life. The aim of the course is to sharpen skills of reasoning and argumentation by developing an understanding of how arguments work, and to enable students to distinguish arguments that succeed in supporting their conclusions with reasons from those that do not. The course includes the study of basic types of reasoning, the structure of arguments, and criteria of argument assessment.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES

• The role and importance of arguments
• How to classify arguments by type
• How to recognize when arguments are being offered
• How to reconstruct arguments from informal presentations
• How to recognize the strengths of good arguments, and the weaknesses of bad ones
• How to recognize common errors in reasoning

REQUIRED TEXTS

• Feldman, Reason and Argument, Custom Edition for SFU, Pearson/Prentice Hall.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

• First mid-term - 20%
• Second mid-term - 30%
• Final exam - 40%
• Participation - 10%
  

NOTE: XX1 has no prerequisites. Philosophy XX1 may be applied toward the Certificate in Liberal Arts and the Q-requirement.