PHI 101 Course Outline

Introduces the student to reasoning in a language-centered context. Students will learn how to identify
arguments and distinguish them from other types of discourse. Some topics covered will be: evaluating
claims, recognizing informal fallacies, problem solving, evaluating media. Students will also learn how to
cast issues in a neutral manner, to recognize and appreciate a variety of perspectives, and to argue for
and against more than one perspective on an issue. The focus of this course is on everyday practical
reasoning. IAI H4 906

1. Identifying issues, claims, facts, opinions, arguments
2. Writing: clarity, definitions, ambiguity, vagueness, organization, evaluative writing, inclusive writing
3. Claims: assessing credibility (expertise, observer credibility, reference works, the Internet, news
   media)
4. Arguments: arguments vs. non-arguments, deduction vs. induction, premises and conclusions,
   evaluating arguments, identifying unstated assumptions
5. Fallacious reasoning: fallacies of weak induction, fallacies of relevance, fallacies of presumption
6. Induction: evaluating arguments by analogy, inductive generalization, causal arguments
7. Reasoning in specific contexts: scientific reasoning, moral reasoning, and legal reasoning

1. Lecture
2. Discussion of arguments
3. Individual and group exercises
4. Extensive use of media: film, video, internet, newspaper, editorial cartoons
5. Debates

The student should...

1. Identify issues and claims
2. Identify the kinds of support offered for claims
3. Identify unstated assumptions in various arguments.
4. Evaluate the support for claims in terms of acceptability, relevance, sufficiency.
5. Apply the above skills to extended arguments, including two or more of the following: arguments from
   analogy, causal arguments, inference to the best explanation, moral arguments, statistical
   arguments, testimonial arguments
6. Produce an original argument that includes an awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of one’s
   own position.

1. Class participation
2. Objective tests
3. Final exam
4. Essays/Term papers
5. Brief papers (1-3 pages each)
6. Debates
7. Homework assignments Examples of such assignments include written analyses of editorial positions
   and/or letters to the editor, written analysis of a piece of advertising, a critique of an argument for or against a moral issue (e.g. abortion or euthanasia), critique of a Supreme or Appellate Court opinion.

Optional

• Moore, Brooke N. and Richard Parker, Critical Thinking, 11th ed., McGraw-Hill, 2014
• Browne, M. Neil and Stuart Keeley, Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking, 11th ed.,
  Prentice Hall, 2014

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