Description:

The primary objective of the course is to become familiar with the essentials of correct argumentation and to improve students' analytical and problem-solving skills. Through the discussion and practical use of advanced methods of argumentation, the course develops students' understanding of the essential principles involved in the practice of reasoned decision-making with the emphasis on their practical application in case studies discussing recent socioeconomic and political issues. The writing and language skills developed in this course might be used across the curriculum.

Contents:

1. Introduction to the problem of critical thinking, course routines and requirements
reading: CT 01 Critical Thinking Introduction
2. Basic concepts
reading: CT 02 - 03 Bowell Concepts
3. Deduction; Claims, Arguments
reading: CT 02 - 03 Bowell Concepts
4. Induction; Common Argument Types and their Structures;
reading: CT 04 Syllogisms Capaldi
5. Clarity, Vagueness, Ambiguity; Case study no. 2
reading: CT 05 Bowell Ambiguity Persuasiveness
6. Persuasiveness; Credibility
reading: CT 05 Bowell Ambiguity Persuasiveness
7. Rhetoric and Argumentation
reading: CT 06 Rhetoric
8. Media Theory, Hoaxes
reading: CT 07 McLuhan
9. Modern myths and Post-truth
reading: CT 08 Barthes
10. Logical fallacies
reading: CT 09 Bowell Rhetorical Ploys and Fallacies
11. Logical fallacies
reading: CT 10 Bowell Fallacies 2
12. Grandstanding: the abuse of moral talk
reading: CT 11
13. Final test (in-class test)

Recommended literature:

Swatridge, C. Oxford Guide to Effective Argument and Critical Thinking. Oxford: OUP, 2014.ISBN 987-0-19-967172-4
Murray, R. M., Kujundzic, N. Critical Reflection: A Textbook for Critical Thinking. McGill-Queen's University Press; April 2005. ISBN: 0-7735-2879-2.
Bowell, T. Critical Thinking: A Concise Guide. London: Routledge, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-415-47182-4.
Fisher, A. Critical Thinking: An Introduction. Cambridge: CUP, 2011. ISBN: 978-1-107-40198-3.

Abbreviations used:

Semester:

• W ... winter semester (usually October - February)
• S ... spring semester (usually March - June)
• W,S ... both semesters

Mode of completion of the course:

• A ... Assessment (no grade is given to this course but credits are awarded. You will receive only P (Passed) of F (Failed) and number of credits)
• GA ... Graded Assessment (a grade is awarded for this course)
• EX ... Examination (a grade is awarded for this course)
• A, EX ... Examination (the award of Assessment is a precondition for taking the Examination in the given subject, a grade is awarded for this course)

Weekly load (hours per week):

• P ... lecture
• C ... seminar
• L ... laboratory
• R ... proseminar
• S ... seminar