PHIL-113 Critical Thinking and Civil Discourse
An introduction to the fundamentals of logic and rhetoric. Students will acquire the analytical, interpretive, and argumentative skills which will allow them to reason well about everyday topics and about the issues debated in the public arena. Students will study inductive and deductive methods and study different forms of arguments. Students will be able to appreciate the power of rhetorical persuasion and will learn to identify the common misconceptions, manipulations of information, and fallacies present in public discourse. The course will also address the psychological impediments to good reasoning and aspects of language which tend to interfere with logical thought. Experiential learning will be employed throughout the course. Students will practice discussing issues in a logically consistent, informed, and charitable manner and will engage in civil dialogue though group work, class discussions,and extracurricular events.
Offered
Fall, Spring