Thought and Knowledge: An Introduction to Critical Thinking

Thought and Knowledge applies theory and research from the learning sciences to teach students the critical thinking skills that they need to succeed in today’s world. The text identifies, defines, discusses, and deconstructs contemporary challenges to critical thinking, from fake news, alternative facts, and deep fakes, to misinformation, disinformation, post-truth, and more. It guides students through the explosion of content on the internet and social media and enables them to become careful and critical evaluators as well as consumers.

The text is grounded in psychological science, especially the cognitive sciences, and brought to life through humorous and engaging language and numerous practical and real-world examples and anecdotes. This edition has been streamlined with thoughtful consideration over what content to keep, what to cut, and how much new and current research to add. Critical thinking skills are presented in every chapter, empowering students to learn more efficiently, research more productively, and present logical, critical, and informed arguments. The skills are reviewed at the end of the chapter, and a complete list of skills with definitions and examples are included in the appendix. The text is supported by a companion website that features a robust set of instructor and student resources: www.routledge.com/cw/halpern.

Thought and Knowledge can be used as a core text in critical thinking courses offered in departments of psychology, philosophy, English, or across the humanities and social sciences, or as a supplement in any course where critical thinking is emphasized.