The Art of Reasoning by David Kelley

David Kelly thinks the art of logic is different from the science of logic. The art consists of the practical skills embodied in the more abstract science of logic. I found that Kelley directs his text more towards ordinary people, while Copi’s Introduction to Logic is more a standard textbook for college logic classrooms. This is why Kelley’s explanations are easier to understand, and why his examples and exercises try to build practical skills, rather than only an abstract understanding of the subject of logic.

Publisher: W. W. Norton
Subjects Covered: Classification, definition, language, argument (recognizing, etc.), logical fallacies, deductive logic (classical & modern), inductive logic (generalization, etc.)
Self-teaching: **** Quizzes with answers, adequate explanations
Suggested Ages: 17-adult
Thoroughness: Thorough on all topics
Best Features: More practical than Copi, thorough
Worst Features: Instructor’s Manual hard to obtain

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1 • G Bird • October 19, 2008 • 6:47 AM

I am a 46 year old Christian male from England (where “The Fallacy Detective” is extremely hard to find!) who is interested in learning basic practical reasoning skills. Having read your positive review, I am considering buying David Kelley’s book, but his Wikipedia entry makes much of his fondness for Ayn Rand and Objectivism (which I understand only vaguely, but appreciate would be at odds with my faith). Is Ayn Rand’s philosophy reflected in “The Art of Reason” at all or can I still purchase this book with confidence? 

By the way, I have found your website to be extremely helpful. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

2 • Nathaniel Bluedorn • October 19, 2008 • 9:41 PM

David Kelly’s objectivism doesn’t come out much in this book. It’s a good book.

3 • Mary Lee Harsha • June 05, 2009 • 10:46 AM

I am an ardent Ayn Rand fan and was drawn to purchasing this book because I expected it to adhere to the epistemological principles of Objectivism. Can you provide further explanation of your statement that the book doesn’t show much of Kelley’s Objectivism?
I will await your answer before making the purchase.
Thank you

4 • Mary Lee Harsha • February 28, 2010 • 10:57 PM

No sooner had I posted the above, than I bought the book and got to the study of it. Well worth the effort.

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The Art of Reasoning

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