Digital library
Textbooks, references and open learning resources.
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Foundations for Moral Relativism
J. David Velleman · New York University
In this new edition of Foundations for Moral Relativism, J. David Velleman shows that different communities can indeed be subject to incompatible moralities, because their local mores are rationally binding. At the same time, he explains why the mores of different communities, even when incompatible, are still variations on the same moral themes. The book thus maps out a universe of many moral worlds without, as Velleman puts it, "moral black holes”.
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The (In)Credible Argument
Jenn Kepka · Lane Community College
In academics, we set aside time and space to learn about and practice argument because we value the ability of a writer, reader, and thinker to ethically prove their point. Whether it is piping up with an opinion during class discussion or writing a heart-felt personal essay about the reasons for attending school, argument motivates much of the work you’ll do in college. It is also behind nearly every piece of media — written, spoken, musical, video, or other.
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It's Funny 'Cause It's True
Jennifer Marra Henrigillis & Steven Gimbel · Georgia State University & Gettysburg College
It's Funny 'Cause It's True is an introductory text in philosophy exploring logic, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and aesthetics through questions in the philosophy of humor. Subfields receive a substantive introduction with interactive essays written to be accessible to undergraduates.
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A Miniguide to Critical Thinking
Joe Y. F. Lau · University of Hong Kong
This miniguide introduces some of the basic concepts and principles of critical thinking.
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Thinking Well - A Logic And Critical Thinking Textbook
Andrew Lavin · Butte College
The common title of this course is “Logic and Critical Thinking.” So, we can think about the course as having two main components: the study of formal logic and the study of the tools and strategies of critical thinking. This text is structured in a bit of a “sandwich”. Units on critical thinking and then formal logic, and then units on more critical thinking topics.
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A Guide to Good Reasoning: Cultivating Intellectual Virtues
David Carl Wilson · Webster University
A Guide to Good Reasoning shows with both wit and philosophical care how students can become good at everyday reasoning. It starts with attitude—with alertness to judgmental heuristics and with the cultivation of intellectual virtues and develops a system for skillfully clarifying and evaluating arguments, according to four standards—whether the premises fit the world, whether the conclusion fits the premises, whether the argument fits the conversation, and whether it is possible to tell.
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How to be a Reasonable Person: A Short Introduction to Thinking Critically
W. Russ Payne · Bellevue College
Critical Thinking is widely claimed as an “infused” general education outcome. This brief primer is the resource I use to infuse critical thinking into my philosophy classes. I teach philosophy as a vehicle for instilling good critical thinking skills. This involves some dedicated instruction, generally a week and a half or so at the outset of every course. This is then followed by philosophy curriculum that is designed to cultivate and reinforce the critical thinking skills I start with.
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Key Elements of Green Chemistry
Lucian Lucia · North Carolina State University
Green chemistry, in addition to being a science, it is also a philosophy and nearly a religion. Attendance at American Chemical Society Green Chemistry & Engineering Conferences will instill such an ideal into any attendant because of the nearly universal appeal and possibilities in this novel approach to radicalizing the business of doing science and engineering.
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Introduction to Humanities 2e
Lori-Beth Larsen · Central Lakes College
In the contents: 1.06: Philosophy
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Introduction to Humanities
Lori-Beth Larsen · Central Lakes College
In the contents: 1.04: Philosophy
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Being Human: An Introduction to Western Culture
Jacqui Shehorn · West Hills College Lemoore
In the contents: 2.02: Philosophy and Religion in the Western Tradition
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Friendly Introduction to Mathematical Logic
Christopher Leary & Lars Kristiansen · SUNY Geneseo & University of Oslo
At the intersection of mathematics, computer science, and philosophy, mathematical logic examines the power and limitations of formal mathematical thinking. In this expansion of Leary’s user-friendly 1st edition, readers with no previous study in the field are introduced to the basics of model theory, proof theory, and computability theory. The text is designed to be used either in an upper division undergraduate classroom, or for self study.
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Ethics
Mark Dimmock & Andrew Fisher · Torquay Boys' Grammar School & University of Nottingham
The goal of this book is to improve your logical-reasoning skills also called "critical thinking skills." They are a complex weave of abilities that help you get someone's point, generate reasons for your own point, evaluate the reasons given by others, decide what or what not to do, decide what information to accept or reject, explain a complicated idea, apply conscious quality control as you think, and resist propaganda.
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Thinking Critically About Abortion
Nathan Nobis & Kristina Grob · Morehouse College & University of South Carolina Sumter
This book introduces readers to the many arguments and controversies concerning abortion. While it argues for ethical and legal positions on the issues, it focuses on how to think about the issues, not just what to think about them. It is an ideal resource to improve your understanding of what people think, why they think that and whether their (and your) arguments are good or bad, and why. It's ideal for classroom use, discussion groups, organizational learning, and personal reading.
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A Dam Good Argument
Liz Delf, Rob Drummond, and Kristy Kelly · Oregon State University
Learning about how persuasion works will make you a more thoughtful and skeptical consumer of all that content, so that you can come to your own conclusions and recognize the underlying assumptions that inform attempts to persuade you. This book is about analyzing others' arguments and crafting your own. The rhetorical choices that you make as a writer–from evidence to structure to tone–impact how your audience will receive your ideas. Using those tools effectively will help your voice be heard.
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Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking
Matthew Van Cleave · Lansing Community College
This is an introductory textbook in logic and critical thinking. The goal of the textbook is to provide the reader with a set of tools and skills that will enable them to identify and evaluate arguments. The book is intended for an introductory course that covers both formal and informal logic. As such, it is not a formal logic textbook, but is closer to what one would find marketed as a“critical thinking textbook.”
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Decoding Deception
Diana Daly and Kainan Jarrette · University of Arizona
Decoding Deception by Diana Daly and Kainan Jarrette is a dynamic multimedia OER that turns adults and college and high school students into expert lie detectors. This interactive guide blends humor, games, and activities with cognitive science and media literacy to reveal how biases, fallacies, and AI-fueled content can mislead us. Readers learn practical strategies for questioning sources, evaluating claims, and cutting through the noise of our post-truth era.
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A Concise Introduction to Logic
Craig DeLancey · SUNY Oswego
This text is an introduction to formal logic suitable for undergraduates taking a general education course in logic or critical thinking, and is accessible and useful to any interested in gaining a basic understanding of logic. This text takes the unique approach of teaching logic through intellectual history; the author uses examples from important and celebrated arguments in philosophy to illustrate logical principles. The text also includes a basic introduction to findings of advanced logic.
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Animals & Ethics 101 - Thinking Critically About Animal Rights
Nathan Nobis · Morehouse College
This book provides an overview of the current debates about the nature and extent of our moral obligations to animals. Which, if any, uses of animals are morally wrong, which are morally permissible (i.e., not wrong) and why? What, if any, moral obligations do we, individually and as a society (and a global community), have towards animals and why? How should animals be treated? Why? We will explore the most influential and most developed answers to these questions.
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Fundamental Methods of Logic
Matthew Knachel · University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Fundamental Methods of Logic is suitable for a one-semester introduction to logic/critical reasoning course. It covers a variety of topics at an introductory level. Chapter One introduces basic notions, such as arguments and explanations, validity and soundness, deductive and inductive reasoning; it also covers basic analytical techniques, such as distinguishing premises from conclusions and diagramming arguments.