Full Table Of Contents
Here's how I order the book ... "serving suggestion" only - you can re-order and/or omit at will .
An Introduction To Reasoning
Cathal Woods
A star (*) indicates that there are exercises covering this section and previous unmarked sections.
Preface & Introductory Chapter (P&I)
PREFACE
1 Welcome
2 The Critical Reasoner
3 Overview
4 Request For Help
5 Thanks
6 Dedication
SOME EVERYDAY REASONING
1 Introduction
2 Reasoning Based On Properties
3 Part-Whole Relationships
4 Reasoning With Relations
5 The Tricky Verb 'To Be'
6 Reasoning With Categorical Generalizations
7 Mixing General & Specific Propositions
8 Reasoning With Conditionals
9 Elimination
10 Induction
11 Fallacious Reasoning & Degree Of Difficulty
12 Concluding Remarks & Summary*
Propositional & Categorical Reasoning (P&C)
CHAPTER 1 ENGLISH & LOGICALLY STRUCTURED ENGLISH
1.1 Validity*
1.2 Simple Propositions, Complex Propositions
1.3 Simple Propositions, Complex Propositions, Ambiguous Propositions
1.4 Some Extras On Negations, Disjunctions, & Conjunctions*
1.5 Some Extras On Conditionals*
CHAPTER 2 THE BIG 8 METHOD
2.1 Standard Form
2.2 The Big 8 Method
2.3 Matching The Antecedent
2.4 Matching The Consequent
2.5 Contradicting The Consequent
2.6 Contradicting The Antecedent*
2.7 Chain Inference
2.8 Constructive Dilemma, Destructive Dilemma
2.9 Elimination Inference
2.10 Summary*
2.11 A Summary Of Inference Patterns—The Big 8
CHAPTER 3 THE METHOD OF DERIVATION
3.1 Advantages Of The Method Of Derivation
3.2 Logically Structured Symbolic Propositions*
3.3 The Method Of Derivation & The Rules Of Inference*
3.4 The "Backwards" Strategy Of Derivation*
3.5 Three Additional Rules Of Inference*
3.6 Rules Of Equivalence**
3.7 Conditional Derivations & Indirect Derivations*
3.8 A Summary Of Rules—Method of Derivation
CHAPTER 4 THE TRUTH TABLE METHOD & THE TRUTH TREE METHOD
4.1 Advantages & Disadvantages Of The Truth Table & Truth Tree Methods
4.2 Truth Values & Truth Tables For The Logical Operators*
4.3 Setting Up Truth Tables
4.4 The Truth Table Method*
4.5 Logical Equivalence & Inequivalence, & Logical Contradiction*
4.6 Targeted Truth Tables*
4.7 The Truth Tree Method*
4.8 A Summary Of Truth Conditions—Truth Tables & Truth Trees
CHAPTER 5 THE VENN DIAGRAM METHOD
5.1 Categorical Generalizations
5.2 Some Extras On Categorical Generalizations
5.3 Venn Diagrams & Categorical Generalizations
5.4 Existential Commitment
5.5 Immediate Inferences, Categorical Syllogisms & The Venn Diagram Method*
A SUMMARY OF TERMINOLOGY & FORMS—PROPOSITIONAL & CATEGORICAL REASONING
Inductive & Scientific Reasoning (I&S)
CHAPTER 1 VALID, STRONG & WEAK INFERENCE
1.1 Valid, Strong & Weak Inference*
CHAPTER 2 GETTING CLEAR ABOUT "CAUSE"
2.1 Causation In Everyday Language
2.2 Causally Sufficient & Causally Necessary*
2.3 Inference To An Effect
2.4 Inference To A Cause*
2.5 A Summary Of Terminology & Forms—Sufficiency, Necessity, Causal Inferences
CHAPTER 3 ASSOCIATION & CAUSAL EXPLANATION
3.1 Association*
3.2 Cross-Tabulations & The Present-Present Fallacy*
3.3 Association & Causation
3.4 Contributing Factors As INUS Conditions*
3.5 Explanation
3.6 A Summary Of Terminology & Forms—Association, Causation, Explanation
CHAPTER 4 INDUCTION
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Inductive Generalization (IG)*
4.3 Instantiation Syllogism (IS)
4.4 Induction To A Particular (IP)
4.5 Distinguishing Between IG, IS & IP*
4.6 A Summary Of Forms—IG, IS, IP
APPENDIX TO CHAPTER 4 PROBLEMS IN INDUCTION
4A.1 The Problem Of Induction
4A.2 The New Riddle Of Induction
4A.3 The Lottery Paradox
CHAPTER 5 SCIENTIFIC REASONING
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Generation Of Hypotheses & Analogy*
5.3 Experimental Methods*
5.4 Inference To The Best Explanation (IBE)**
5.5 A Summary Of Terminology & Forms—AAn, IBE, "Best"
APPENDIX TO CHAPTER 5 MILL'S METHODS
1 Introduction
2 The Method Of Agreement
3 The Method Of Double Agreement
4 The Method Of Difference
5 The Method Of Concomitant Variation
6 The Methods & Strength*
7 Summary Of Forms—Mill's Methods
A SUMMARY OF TERMINOLOGY & FORMS—INDUCTIVE & SCIENTIFIC REASONING
Real World Reasoning (RW)
CHAPTER 1 CLASSIFYING & ANALYZING REASONING
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Reasoning, Arguing & Explaining
1.3 Identifying Reasoning Using Flag Words
1.4 The Relationship Between Arguing & Explaining*
1.5 Sentences & Propositions
1.6 Analysis—Things To Omit*
1.7 Summary—Recognizing & Classifying Reasoning
CHAPTER 2 DIFFICULTIES IN EVALUATING PREMISES
2.1 Two Criteria Of Evaluation*
2.2 Getting Clear On The Meaning*
2.3 Sources*
2.4 Appeal To Character Or Motives
2.5 Summary—Soundness, Sources, & Character
CHAPTER 3 DIFFICULTIES IN EVALUATING THE REASONING
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Avoid Giving Reasons
3.3 Promise Reasons
3.4 Repeat The Conclusion As A Reason*
3.5 Overstate The Strength Of The Reasoning*
3.6 Arguing With Emotional Reasons*
3.7 Summary—Reasoning Substitutes
CHAPTER 4 INCOMPLETE ARGUMENTS & EXPLANATIONS
4.1 Incomplete Arguments & Explanations
4.2 Warrants in Practical Arguments*
4.3 Warrants: Truth Vs. Strength
4.4 Sincerity & Charity*
4.5 Summary—Decision-Making
CHAPTER 5 DIAGRAMS & COMPLEX REASONING
5.1 Diagrams*
5.2 Reasoning With A Conjunction In The Target Proposition
5.3 Compound Reasoning
5.4 Objections*
5.5 Analyzing Long Passages
5.6 Analyzing Very Long Passages*
5.7 Evaluating The Various Reasoning Structures
5.8 Summary—Diagramming
A SUMMARY OF FORMS, TERMINOLOGY, ETC.—REAL-WORLD REASONING