From: Menno Rubingh (rubingh@delftnet.nl)
Date: Fri Nov 12 1999 - 14:15:30 MST
> From: ubergoo@hotmail.com
> I am currently reading and selecting books for a reading list. I would
> like to include a book on critical thinking, seeing through logical
> fallacies, separating emotion, sentiment and cliches out of arguments...that
> sort of thing. I searched Amazon.com and found 2 or 3 that look good, but I
> would like to hear your recommendations and opinions.
Maybe 'The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark' by Carl Sagan
fits into your query. It is not primarily a 'textbook' about logic (although
it contains elements of that); Rather, this book is an active attack on all
kinds of mysticism and sloppy emotional/sentimental thinking, and exposes the
illogicalities, but also the cruelty and dangers, in a large set of examples
of non-rational acting and thinking. I like this book. I think this book
will remove a lot of prejudices and sloppy thinking in someone who reads it
who is already halfway 'converted' to rationalism.
(Sagan, the 'white knight' slaying the memes of irrationality in his readers,
and leading them to the 'light' :-) of rationality.)
Best greetings, Menno (rubingh@delftnet.nl)
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