TrueSciPhi logo

TrueSciPhi

 

Podcast Profile: Critical Reasoning for Beginners

Show Image SiteRSSApple Podcasts
13 episodes
2010 to 2012
Median: 68 minutes
Collection: Philosophy


Description (podcaster-provided):

Are you confident you can reason clearly? Are you able to convince others of your point of view? Are you able to give plausible reasons for believing what you believe? Do you sometimes read arguments in the newspapers, hear them on the television, or in the pub and wish you knew how to confidently evaluate them?
In this six-part course, you will learn all about arguments, how to identify them, how to evaluate them, and how not to mistake bad arguments for good. Such skills are invaluable if you are concerned about the truth of your beliefs, and the cogency of your arguments.


Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):

➤ Identifying arguments • Evaluating validity and truth • Deductive vs. inductive reasoning • Logic book-style argument structure • Recognizing fallacies

This podcast, titled "Critical Reasoning for Beginners," offers a structured exploration into the art of argumentation and logic. Over the course of six episodes, listeners are introduced to foundational skills necessary for understanding and evaluating arguments. The podcast begins by explaining how to recognize arguments and the fundamental nature of what constitutes one. It progresses to teaching listeners about various types of arguments, with a focus on distinguishing between deductive and inductive reasoning.

Part of the series involves learning how to set out arguments in a structured "logic book" style. This method aims to make arguments easier to analyze and evaluate for validity and soundness. The podcast also delves into the criteria of a good argument, emphasizing the concepts of validity and truth, particularly in the context of inductive reasoning. The evaluation of arguments continues with a focus on deductive reasoning, where the notion of validity is explored in depth.

Throughout the podcast, listeners learn to identify fallacies, which are defective arguments that masquerade as credible ones. This focus on fallacies underscores a significant theme of the podcast: helping listeners sharpen their critical reasoning skills to discern good arguments from bad. The podcast concludes by offering guidance on further resources for those interested in continuing their study of critical reasoning. Overall, this podcast is designed to equip its audience with the tools necessary to engage confidently and competently in analytical thinking and argument evaluation.


Episodes:
The Nature of Arguments
2010-Jan-29
79 minutes
The Nature of Arguments (Slides)
2010-Jan-29

Different Types of Arguments
2010-Jan-29
70 minutes
Different Types of Arguments (Slides)
2010-Jan-29

Setting out Arguments Logic Book Style
2010-Mar-10
80 minutes
Setting out Arguments Logic Book Style (Slides)
2010-Mar-10

What is a Good Argument? Validity and Truth
2010-Mar-11
52 minutes
What is a Good Argument? Validity and Truth (Slides)
2010-Mar-11

Evaluating Arguments Part One
2010-Mar-15
66 minutes
Evaluating Arguments Part One (Slides)
2010-Mar-15

Evaluating Arguments Part Two
2010-Mar-18
57 minutes
Evaluating Arguments Part Two (Slides)
2010-Mar-18

Further reading and more... (Slides)
2012-Apr-16