Criticalthinking.com

"Critical Thinking.com is bound to raise a few hackles. It takes on two major thought-clichs of todays world: first, that critical thinking is the ultimate form of thinking and that we know what it is when we encounter it; and, second, that the Internet promises us a brave new world of virtual literacy that will not only replace traditional literacy but improve it. Partly philosophical, partly practical, partly pedagogical, Critical Thinking.com is mostly a refreshing look at the interaction of knowledge production and technology. It is smart, more than a little daring, and probably will make you think a little differently about some of the things you thought you knew -- Gerald Early (Merle Kling Professor of Modern Letters. Washington University)


"Critical thinking has been oversold as a cure for ignorance and apathy. Myron Tuman exposes the shallowness of the conventional recipes and provides a good thing instead--a book of incisive distinctions, captivating material, and provocative reflections. It is bound to leave the reader a more thoughtful person." -- Albert Borgmann (Department of Philosophy. The University of Montana)


Table of Content
Prologue:
Critical Thinking for Dummies - - - - 9
Chapter 1
Thinking Critically (about Critical Thinking) - - - - 13
Critical QuestionsAnalysis or ReflectionWhich One Is Critical?Analysis and ProgressA Cautionary Conclusion about Critical ThinkingSeven Elements of Critical Thinking as ReflectionCoda: Descartes and Questioning
Chapter 2 - - - - 39Finding and Evaluating Web ContentThe Open WebThe Invisible Web
The Gated WebLibraries and Web Access
Facts, Commentary, and ExpertsHot Topics and Emily DickinsonSummary: Stephen King on the WebCoda: Stephen King for Free!
Chapter 3 - - - - 73News and ReflectionThe Two Sides of Thomas JeffersonInternal and External CluesMore on AuthorityNews on the WebPlato and RushkoffCoda: Cold Fusion
Chapter 4 - - - - 99The End of Books and Libraries?What Is a Book?What Does It Mean to Read?Two Models of Libraries
Libraries Without Walls, Libraries Without BooksCoda: Books, Libraries, and Marshall McLuhanChapter 5 - - - - 121The Free World of the WebThe First Freedom: ExpressionThe Second Freedom: InformationThe Third Freedom: AssociationDefining CommunityCoda: Thomas Jefferson RevisitedChapter 6 - - - - 143Grassroots and AstroturfPromotion, Top-Down and Bottom-UpGrassroots and Astroturf
Selling with BuzzCoda: Swag and Fan EmpowermentChapter 7 - - - - 156Passion, Identity, and CensorshipIdentity PoliticsHate Groups, the Dark Side of Identity PoliticsThe Appeal of CensorshipCritical Thinking and Taboos
Coda: Edgar Allen Poes Purloined LetterChapter 8 - - - - 182The Elements of GuileStories as SubversionThe Foolish Physics ProfessorThe Comic as SubversiveThis American LifeCoda: Chief Seattle, Another Populist TaleEpilogue
Feeling the World - - - - 199
Index