Crimes Against Logic

This is a witty assault on lame rhetoric, specious logic, and official BS. Here's a fast-paced, ruthlessly funny romp through the mulligan stew of illogic, unreason, and just plain drivel served up daily in the media by pundits, psychics, ad agencies, New Age gurus, statisticians, free trade ideologues, business "thinkers," and, of course, politicians. Award-winning young philosopher Jamie Whyte applies his laser-like wit to dozens of timely examples in order to deconstruct the rhetoric and cut through the haze of shibboleth and doubletalk to get at the real issues. A troubleshooting guide to both public and private discourse, "Crimes Against Logic": analyzes the 12 major logical fallacies, with examples from the media and everyday life; takes no prisoners as it goes up against the scientific, religious, academic, and political establishments; helps you fine-tune your critical faculties and learn to skewer debaters on their own phony logic.

ISBN 0071446435   Pages 176 ISBN13 9780071446433 (What's this?)   Volumes 1 Publisher McGraw-Hill Education - Europe   Weight (grammes) 158 Imprint McGraw-Hill Professional   Published in London Format Paperback   Height (mm) 177 Publication date 01 Oct 2004   Width (mm) 127 Library of Congress 2004053941   Spine width (mm) 11 DEWEY 160   Academic level General DEWEY edition DC22

		The right to your opinion		1
		Motives		11
		Authority		19
		Prejudice in fancy dress		31
		Shut up!		51
		Empty words		63
		Inconsistency		83
		Equivocation		97
		Begging the question		107
		Coincidence		117
		Shocking statistics		133
		Morality fever		147

"[Whyte] whets a long knife of ultra-rationalism on the cold stone of logic, and death by a thousand cuts is inflicted on prejudice, statistics, morality, religion, weasel words, and seductive sirens such as politicians, New Agers, advertising executives, and, of course, journalists who expect you to be persuaded by anything other than facts." The Times 20031129 "He ruthlessly exposes logical flaws and sheer nonsense... in likably angry and witty style." The Guardian 20031101

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