MEKDELA AMBA UNIVERSITY

COMMON COURSE UNIT

Program Undergraduate (BA Degree, Regular)

Department Political Science And International Studies

Course Code LoCT 1011

Course Title Critical Thinking

Academic Year 2013E.C or 2021G.C

Instructors’ name & [email protected])

Contact Information ,Eyasu Z,. Melaku B., Melese N.,Mulugeta A. Abissinya A,
Getachew A, Habtamu F ,Fentahun A ,Mebratu A

Credit Hour 3 Cr. Hour

Target Group All 1st year students

Mode of Delivery parallel

Number of weeks required 8 weeks

Year/Semester Year I, Semester I

prerequisite None

Status of the Course Compulsory Common Course

Course Description Logic and Critical Thinking is an inquiry that takes arguments as its basic
objects of investigation. The aim of logic and critical thinking course is to
maintaining an ‘objective’ position. When you think critically, you weigh up all
sides of an argument and evaluate its validity, strengths and weaknesses. Thus,
critical thinking skills entail actively seeking all sides of an argument evaluating
the soundness of the claims asserted and the evidence used to support the
claims. This course attempts to introduce the fundamental concepts of logic and
methods of logical reasoning. The primary aim of this course is to teach students

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 essential skills of analyzing, evaluating, and constructing arguments, and to
sharpen their ability to execute the skills in thinking and writing.

Course Objectives At the end of the course, students should be able to:
 Understand the relationship of logic and philosophy,
 Recognize the core areas of philosophy,
 Appreciate the necessity learning logic and philosophy,
 Understand basic logical concepts, arguments,
 Understand deductivness, inductiveness, validity, strength, soundness,
and cogency,
 Develop the skill to construct sound argument and evaluate arguments;
 Cultivate the habits of critical thinking and develop sensitivity to clear
and accurate usage of language;
 Differentiate cognitive meanings from emotive meanings of words,
 Differentiate standard forms of categorical propositions from other
types of sentences used in any language,
Methods of Course For the successful completion of this course, different Student-Centered
Delivery
teaching methodologies will be applied. These include: Semi-Lecture, Class
Discussion, Group Discussion, Pair Discussion.
Academic Honesty and You are expected to adhere to the highest academic standards of behavior and
Integrity personal conduct in this course and all other courses. Students who engage in
academic misconduct are subject to university disciplinary procedures. Make
sure you are familiar with your Student Handbook, especially the section on
academic misconduct, which discusses conduct expectations and academic
dishonesty rules.
Course Assessment The Continuous Assessment will incorporate:
 Group Assegnment.………………………………..20%
 Mid Exam…………………………………….…. 30%
 Final Exam.…………… ………… ……………. 50%

Units and Contents

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 Chapter One: Logic and Philosophy (3 Hrs: Week 1 )
1.1 Introduction.

1.2 Meaning and Definition of philosophy

1.3 Core Branches of Philosophy.

1.4 Importance of Learning Logic and Philosophy

Chapter Two: Basic Concepts of Logic (3 Hrs: Week 2, )

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Basic Concepts of Logic

2.3 Techniques of recognizing arguments.

2.4 Types of Arguments

2.4.1 Deductive Arguments
2.4.2 Inductive Arguments
2.5 Evaluation of Arguments

2.5.1 Evaluating Deductive Argument

2.5.2 Evaluating Inductive Arguments

Chapter Three: Logic and Language (3 Hrs: Week 3 )

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Logic and Meaning

3.2.1 Cognitive and Emotive Meaning of Words

3.2.2 Intensional and Extensional Meaning of Terms

3.3 Logic and Definition

3.3.1 Types and Purposes of Definition

3.3.2 Techniques of Definition

3.3.2.1 Extensional Techniques of Definition

3.3.2.2 Intensional Techniques of Definition

3.4 Criteria for Lexical Definitions

Chapter Four: Basic Concepts of Critical Thinking (6 Hrs: Week 4& 5)
4.1. Introduction

4.2. Meaning and Definition of Critical Thinking.

4.3. Principles of Critical Thinking.

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4.4. Criterion/Standard of Argument Good Argument.

4.5. Factors Affecting Critical Thinking.

4.5. Relevance of Critical Thinking.

Chapter Five: Logical Reasoning and Fallacies (6 Hrs: Week 6, 7)
5.1 Induction

5.2 Types of Fallacies: Formal and Informal

5.3 Categories of Informal Fallacies

5.3.1 Fallacies of Relevance

5.3.2 Fallacies of Weak Induction

5.3.3 Fallacies of Presumption

5.3.4 Fallacies of Ambiguity

5.3.5 Fallacies of Grammatical Analogy

Chapter Six: Categorical Propositions (3 Hrs: Week 8)
6.1 Introduction

6.2 Categorical Propositions

6.2.1 The Components of Categorical Propositions

6.2.2 Attributes of Categorical Propositions: Quality, Quantity, and Distribution

6.2.3 Representing Categorical Propositions

6.2.3.1 Venn Diagrams

6.2.3.2 Boolean and Aristotelian Square of Oppositions

6.2.4 Evaluating Immediate Inferences: Venn Diagrams and Square of Oppositions

6.2.5 Logical Operations: Conversion, Obversion, and Contraposition

Readings and Texts

Textbook
Hurley, Patrick J. (2014) A Concise Introduction to Logic, 12th Edition, Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Hurley, Patrick J. (2012) A Concise Introduction to Logic, 11th Edition, Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Reference Books
Copi, Irving M.and Carl Cohen, (1990) Introduction to Logic, New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
Damer, Edward. (2005). Attacking faulty reasoning. A practical guide to fallacy free argument. Wadsworth Cengage
learning, USA.

Fogelin, Robert, J, (1987) Understanding Arguments: An Introduction to Informal Logic, New York: Harcourt Brace
Jvanovich Publisher.
Guttenplan, Samuel: (1991) The Language of Logic. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers

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 Stephen, C. (2000) The Power of Logic. London and Toronto: Mayfield Publishing company.
Simico, N.D and G.G James. (1983) Elementary Logic, Belmont, Ca: Wadsworth Publishing Company.
Walelign, Emuru, (2009) Freshman Logic, Addis Ababa.

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