Dr. Jason C. Robinson
jasonro@yorku.ca
Office Location:  VC 262
Phone Number:  (416) 736-2100 Ext. 55158
Office Hours:  Tuesdays by appointment only

This course emphasizes critical reasoning skills. These critical-rational skills are then applied to texts and issues on a variety of topics with the goal of gaining clarity of insight as well as formulating our own “reasoned” positions. We shall be taking an inter- and multi-disciplinary approach that draws on numerous disciplinary insights, theories, methods, and forms of research.

Developing techniques of persuasion is “not” about emotional manipulation, propaganda, simple appeals to tradition or power and authority, or about naïve acceptance (a person showing a lack of judgment) of ideologies (popular ideas about politics, laws, the good life, etc.). Techniques of persuasion are skills related to thinking, writing, and otherwise communicating rationally/logically and critically/reflectively. In this course students will learn about the importance of being persuasive by providing good reasons for thoughts, actions, and beliefs. Being persuasive in a rational manner is of profound practical relevance. As social creatures we want people to listen to us and to believe what we say. This course will help you on both counts.

There are two main parts or themes in this course. It introduces students to: (1) the rules and the application of those rules that govern critical thinking and (2) to controversial debates, i.e., “hot topics” of the day, e.g., political propaganda, legal and social debates on issues such as war, terrorism, animal rights, pornography. This course is designed to encourage student application of critical-rational thinking through interaction with highly debated issues, i.e., to become more persuasive about specific positions.

Techniques of persuasion rely on learning techniques of analysis and reflection. As you no doubt already know, life is full of many difficult choices and questions about how to act and think.

Are you able to effectively navigate your way through them?

Do you have basic critical thinking skills needed to sort good arguments from bad arguments? Many people live life without ever asking themselves why they believe what they believe or how they might justify their actions. Thinking rationally about oneself and the world is not easy and yet it is incredibly important. Thinking clearly and critically—persuasively—does not happen by accident for most of us, it takes time and training. One of our primary goals is to identify and then understand the nature and multiple expressions of reasoning, especially as that reasoning applies to everyday life.

• Thinking Clearly: A Guide to Critical Reasoning. Jill LeBlanc. New York: W. W. Norton, 1998.

ISBN 978-0-393-97218-4

• This book is available in “used” form through various retailers such as amazon.ca.
• A “new” copy of this text might be difficult to find because it is “temporarily” out of print.
• Therefore, we have a course pack (or course kit) at the York bookstore available for this term.
• The pack contains the complete text.
  • Note: Look for our course code MODR 1770, and my name Robinson as well as Allen, on the cover. “Allen” is merely another instructor also using the same text for a course.
  • If the text is for MODR 1770 has “Robinson” on the cover, then you’ve found the right one.

Textbook Website:

There is an important online learning tool associated with this text (LEMUR).
This program may be used for self-testing http://www.wwnorton.com/college/phil/lemur/

 Backup Link:
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/phil/lemur/Shell.html

• Contemporary Moral Arguments: Readings in Ethical Issues. Lewis Vaughn. New York: Oxford University Press, 2012. ISBN-13: 978-0199922260
  Use whatever edition is the cheapest! It does not matter which edition.

Textbook Website:

There is an important online Study Guide for this text available at:

http://www.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780195381931/student/?view=usa

For each part of the text, you will find:

• multiple choice self-quizzes that test your knowledge of each chapter;
• flashcards that highlight key terms and concepts; and
• helpful web links that guide further exploration of key issues.

Lecture

Learning Objectives

The ultimate objective of this course is practical—to provide students the opportunity to develop useful tools for reasoning (being persuasive) in any context. To that end, students will be shown important critical reading, writing, thinking, and problem solving skills needed to successfully navigate different knowledge claims. In addition to critical reading, thinking, and writing skills, there will be an emphasis on personal development, including the creation of competencies in fields/areas of research that are currently unfamiliar—thereby encouraging the ability to rationally consider others’ views on major issues as well as to challenge one’s own.

Learning Outcomes

We all use arguments to convince ourselves and others that some view or position is rationally supported and therefore better than the alternatives. However, doing so well requires very specific skills.

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. distinguish arguments from non-arguments
2. identify different argument types including those in qualitative and quantitative research
3. understand and apply basic logical concepts including those in probabilistic thinking
4. utilize strategies appropriate to different argument types in order to evaluate arguments
5. recognize a range of mistakes in reasoning – the “fallacies”
6. develop and defend your own arguments; and
7. critically evaluate major (social/legal/ethical/political) problems and dilemmas.