Logical Self-Defense

by Ralph H. Johnson, J Anthony Blair

Classic work once again available. Offers step-by-step guidelines for identifying and analyzing arguments. It outlines a theory of good argument to use for purposes of evaluating and constructing arguments. It contains guidelines for constructing arguments and for preparing and writing essays or briefs. Special methods for interpreting and assessing longer arguments are provided. It gives guidelines to help filter out the more reliable information from newspapers and television news. Offers an array of devices to deal with the tricks and deceits of so much of today's advertising. Helps students improve their ability to recognize, interpret, and evaluate arguments and to formulate clear, well-organized arguments themselves. Secondary and college students, debate coaches, classroom instructors, community active people.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Logic, Reference

Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[May]

This is the first time I venture into the realm of logic. Logical Self-Defense has shown me how incompetent and inexperienced I am when it comes to determining the strengths and weaknesses of the various arguments I read.

It teaches how to systematically approach any material designed to persuade us in one direction or the other (with regards to identifying claims, measuring the strengths of the premises, and detecting fallacies); and what steps to follow in order to construct logically-sound arguments. It also contains many exercises and real-life examples. I have learned a lot, and I will surely come back to it again.
The chapter on advertisement is my favourite; it was eye-opening!

[Margo Johnson]

Another university text. I did well in this class so I would have to conclude that this was a valuable exercise in the art of the logic.

[Ian Palacios]

Logical self-defense was the least appealing argumentation book, both theoretically and pedagogically, I have read. There are better books on fallacy theory and better books for argument pedagogy.

[Michael]

Pretty academic but worth the work.