Author Description

The Power of Critical Thinking, 6Ce is a comprehensive and engaging introduction to the essential components of critical thinking. Using clear, reader-friendly language and a wealth of examples drawn from contemporary culture, politics, and media, the text equips students with the skills through which they can become active, engaged critical thinkers. In Part One, the text introduces students to what critical thinking is and why it is important, the context in which it occurs, and the basics of assessing arguments. Part Two discusses reasons to believe or doubt claims and explains common patterns of faulty reasoning. In Part Three, the text delves into specific methods of deductive and inductive reasoning. Finally, Part Four introduces the method of inference to the best explanation and applies the skills of critical thinking to the fields of science, health, law, and ethics. Each chapter includes an extensive box program encouraging students to delve deeper into interesting topics and apply their critical thinking skills. The sixth edition includes the new Critical Thinking and the Media box type, which help students become more critical consumers of media by applying critical thinking to advertising, news, and other forms of media. In addition, hundreds of exercises throughout the text, many of which are updated or new to this edition, draw from real-life situations to provide students with abundant opportunities to practice their skills.