Argument and Evidence : Critical Analysis for the Social Sciences

ISBN-13: 9780415113731 / Angielski / Miękka / 1995 / 247 str.

Peter Phelan; Peter Reynolds

Opis

This work is aimed at anyone who encounters serious attempts to evaluate arguments either intrinsically or by reference to evidence. It is concerned with the most fundamental aspects of serious study: the abilities to reason with ideas and evidence, to formulate arguments effectively and to appreciate the interplay between ideas and evidence in academic and media debate. The text offers an integrated treatment of various approaches to the critical appraisal of controversy which are traditionally handled in different subjects and separate literatures. Special attention is given to the critical interpretation of evidence in the context of particular theories. It develops a range of transferable skills associated with the evaluation of arguments in terms of their internal logic and their relationship with appropriate evidence. The attainment of critical thinking skills leads directly to benefits which outlast the relatively short time of undergraduate study.

Spis treści

Preface 1.Introduction 2.Argument and Evidence 3.Context, Convention and Communication 4.An Informal Analysis of Arguments 5.Patterns of Reasoning 6.Establising Validity 7.Critical Analysis in Practice 7.Assumptions 8.Evidence as Ground Belief 10.What Counts as Evidence? 11.Pesenting and Summarizing Evidence 12.Furthering Knowledge 13.Probability and Uncertainty 14.Probability Theory Applied 15.Estimation and Reliability 16.Testing Hypotheses Appendices Glossary References

O autorze

Peter J. Phelan, Peter J. Reynolds