Critical Thinking: The Basics: (The Basics 2nd edition)

Critical Thinking: The Basics is an accessible and engaging introduction to the field of critical thinking, drawing on philosophy, communication, and psychology.Emphasising its relevance both to academic literacy and to decision-making in a range of contexts, this book introduces and explains the knowledge, methods, and skills needed to identify and avoid poor reasoning, reconstruct and evaluate arguments, and engage constructively in dialogues. Topics covered include: The relationship between critical thinking, emotions, and the psychology of persuasionThe role of character dispositions such as open-mindedness, courage, and self-knowledgeArgument identification and reconstructionFallacies and argument evaluation. This second edition has been revised and updated throughout, and includes an additional chapter on the relationship between critical thinking and emotions.There are also new sections on concepts such as the ‘experiential mind’ and ‘need for cognitive closure’, and contemporar