Friday, January 30, 2026

Assignment #3: Validity, Soundness, Strength, Enthymemes, Is-ought gap

Begin reading and working through the exercises in Van Cleave, 1.3; and 1.6-1.9

Supplemental (on the is-ought gap):

Thesis XII Online: Volume 22.1

Note: I will not hold class on Wednesday, February 18th.  (Monday the 16th is a holiday; I will hold class on Friday the 20th).

Friday, January 23, 2026

Assignment #2 The nature of an argument

Things to do:

1. We will discuss the very nature of critical thinking and philosophy in our next class; then move on to: 

2. Read Van Cleave, 1.1-1.2.  In your notebook dedicated to this class, do all of the exercises.  Bring questions/comments to class.


Thursday, January 15, 2026

Assignment #1: Handout CPE, syllabus, defininitions

Welcome to Logic and Critical Thinking. 

Things to do:


1. Research the term "philosophy" and the phrase "critical thinking."  Find definitions that strike you as inclusive and instructive and bring them to class in a dedicated (section of a) notebook.

2. Review Handout CPE and the syllabus; raise any questions about these documents in our next class.