Fallacy-Free Arguments

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"Introduction
STUDYING A LITTLE LOGIC
It seems as if very few people are really interested in the study of logic, because, as philosopher Charles Peirce suggested many years ago, every person “conceives himself to be proficient enough in the art of reasoning already.” It is interesting to note, however, that we “proficient” reasoners rarely recognize in others a similar proficiency. We regard few arguments other than our own as genuinely good ones, and we sincerely believe that what the rest of the world needs is “to study a little logic.”
Those who make the effort “to study a little logic” will no doubt improve their ability to think correctly and to express that thinking more clearly. One of the current terms for such a skill is “critical thinking.” One philosopher has defined critical thinking as “a process, the goal of which is to make reasonable decisions about what to believe and what to do.” To do such reflective thinking, students of logic need to learn not only the techniques of distinguishing bad arguments from good ones but also how to construct good arguments." (pg. 1)

source:ATTACKING FAULTY REASONING
A Practical Guide to Fallacy-Free Arguments
SIXTH EDITION
T. Edward Damer
© 2009, 2005 Wadsworth Cengage Learning

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