The Art of Deception : An Introduction to Critical Thinking : How to : Win an Argument, Defend a Case, Recognize a Fallacy, See Through a Deception, - Softcover

Capaldi, Nicholas

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0879754249 ISBN 13: 9780879754242

Publisher: Prometheus Books, 1987

Synopsis

This title contains two audiocasettes. This classic work on critical thinking - now fully updated and revised - uses a novel approach to teach the basics of informal logic. On the assumption that 'it takes one to know one', the authors have written the book from the point of view of someone who wishes to deceive, mislead, or manipulate others. Having mastered the art of deception, readers will then be able to detect the misuse or abuse of logic when they encounter it in others - whether in a heated political debate or while trying to evaluate the claims of a persuasive sales person. Using a host of real-world examples, the authors show you how to win an argument, defend a case, recognise a fallacy, see through deception, persuade a sceptic, and turn defeat into victory. Not only do they discuss the fundamentals of logic (premises, conclusions, syllogisms, common fallacies, etc.), but they also consider important related issues often encountered in face-to-face debates, such as gaining a sympathetic audience, responding to audience reaction, using non-verbal devices, clearly presenting the facts, refutation, and driving home a concluding argument. Whether you are preparing for law school or you just want to become more adept at making your points and analysing others' arguments, "The Art of Deception" will give you the intellectual tools to become a more effective thinker and speaker. Helpful exercises and discussion questions are also included. The approximate running time is 160 minutes.

About this title

About the Author:

Nicholas Capaldi, PhD (Baton Rouge, LA), holds the Legendre-Soulé Distinguished Scholar Chair in Business Ethics at Loyola University of New Orleans. He is the author or editor of many books including Affirmative Action: Social Justice or Unfair Preference?; Immigration: Debating the Issues; and John Stuart Mill: A Biography.

Miles Smit, PhD (Toronto, Ontario), works as a business analyst in Canada and holds a PhD in philosophy from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium.

Review:

"I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about intellectual self-defence. It should be on every student's book shelf, and on every educators list of recommended reading." --Dr Jason Braithwaite, Behavioural Brain Sciences Centre, University of Birmingham.

About this edition

• Publisher: Prometheus Books
• Publication date: 1987
• ISBN 10: 0879754249
• ISBN 13: 9780879754242
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 222