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| Introduction: The Neglect of the Mind | |
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| The Influence of Positivism | |
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| The Influence of Romanticism | |
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| The Challenge to You | |
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| Understanding Thinking | |
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| Basic Axioms of Thinking | |
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| Truth Is Objective rather than Subjective, and Discovered rather than Created | |
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| If Two Statements Are Mutually Contradictory, One Must Be False | |
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| The Human Mind Is Fallible | |
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| Ideas Have Consequences | |
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| The Dimensions of Thinking | |
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| The Reflective Dimension | |
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| The Creative Dimension | |
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| The Critical Dimension | |
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| The WISE Approach to Thinking | |
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| Overcoming Obstacles | |
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| The Basic Problem: Egocentrism | |
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| Mine-Is-Better Perspective | |
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| Self-Serving Bias | |
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| Inflated Self-Esteem | |
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| Face Saving | |
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| Other Habits That Obstruct Thought | |
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| Mental Sloth | |
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| Gullibility/Conformity | |
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| Bias for the Majority or Minority | |
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| Bias for or against Change | |
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| Preconceptions | |
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| Reliance on Feelings and First Impressions | |
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| Attitudes That Obstruct Thought | |
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| "I Already Know Everything Worth Knowing" | |
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| "To Challenge My Ideas Is to Disrespect Me" | |
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| "Some Subjects Are Interesting, Others Are Boring" | |
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| "Rules and Procedures Don't Apply to Me" | |
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| Becoming Your Own Critic | |
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| Resisting Manipulation | |
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| Major Contemporary Influences | |
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| Advertising | |
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| Television and Movies | |
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| Journalism | |
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| Political Discourse | |
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| Notable Devices of Manipulation | |
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| Repetition | |
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| Bandwagon | |
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| Glittering Generality | |
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| Empty Comparison | |
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| Slogans | |
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| Testimonial | |
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| Transfer | |
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| Stacking the Deck | |
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| Selective Reporting of Facts | |
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| Demonizing People | |
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| Rumors and Hoaxes | |
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| Resisting Manipulation | |
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| Know Your Vulnerabilities | |
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| Corroborate Information | |
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| Get Both Sides of the Story | |
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| Talk Back to the TV | |
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| Read the Fine Print in Advertisements | |
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| Continue Using the WISE Approach | |
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| Testing Ideas | |
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| Facts versus Statements of Fact | |
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| Two Kinds of Opinion | |
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| The Value of Expert Opinion | |
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| Testing Statements of Fact | |
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| Testing Opinions | |
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| Assess the Author's Evidence | |
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| Search for Contrary Evidence | |
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| Consider Relevant Situations | |
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| Think of Exceptions | |
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| Consider Implications | |
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| Consider Alternative Opinions | |
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| Consider the Consequences | |
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| Play "Devil's Advocate" | |
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| Be Prepared for Complexity | |
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| Recognizing Errors in Reasoning | |
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| Unwarranted Assumption | |
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| Hasty Conclusion | |
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| Overgeneralization | |
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| Oversimplification | |
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| False Analogy | |
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| False Cause | |
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| Double Standard | |
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| Failure to Make Distinctions | |
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| Either/Or Thinking | |
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| Straw Man | |
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| Contradiction | |
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| Errors Can Multiply | |
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| Analyzing Arguments | |
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| Hidden Premises | |
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| Complex Arguments | |
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| Types of Evidence | |
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| How Much Evidence Is Enough? | |
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| Analyzing Complex Arguments | |
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| Determine the Argument's Structure | |
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| Check for Hidden Premises | |
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| Summarize the Argument | |
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| Ask Appropriate Questions | |
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| Evaluate the Argument | |
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| Making Ethical Judgments | |
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| The "Ought" Controversy | |
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| The Case for "Ought" | |
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| Objective Morality | |
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| Respect for Persons | |
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| Criteria for Ethical Judgment | |
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| Obligations | |
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| Ethical Ideals | |
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| Consequences | |
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| A Strategy for Moral Judgment | |
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| Decide What Obligations Are Present | |
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| Decide What Moral Ideals Are Relevant | |
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| Where Conflicts Exist, Assign Priorities | |
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| Identify Possible Actions and Their Consequences | |
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| Decide Which Action Is Most Moral | |
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| Applying the Strategy | |
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| Making Discussion Meaningful | |
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| Whenever Possible, Prepare in Advance | |
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| Set Reasonable Expectations | |
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| Leave Egotism and Personal Agendas at the Door | |
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| Contribute but Don't Dominate | |
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| Avoid Distracting Speech Mannerisms | |
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| Listen Actively | |
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| Judge Ideas Responsibly | |
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| Resist the Urge to Shout or Interrupt | |
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| Notes | |
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| Bibliography | |
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| Index | |
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| About the author | |