For anyone interested in learning more about different aspects of critical thinking (beyond what we’re learning during the 2012 election), below is a list of recommended critical thinking resources.
I’ll be supplementing this list as I introduce new resources on the podcast, and hope to expand this section of the site to include reviews. But for now, consider the following communities, courses and books a good start towards expanding your learning on the subjects covered on Critical Voter.
Critical Thinking Communities
The Critical Thinker Academy – Kevin deLaPlante’s excellent resource for online learning (subscription-based) also includes a free podcast and video cast on YouTube
The Critical Thinking Foundation – This California-based foundation has been working for over 30 years to introduce new ways of approaching and teaching the subject of critical thinking. Their article base contains a wealth of interesting literature on the subject
Critical Thinker Facebook Community – I’ve not spent much time here, but it’s a place I plan to explore more deeply now that Critical Voter is also on Facebook
Critical Thinkers – A community site focusing on critical thinking in business.
Critical Thinking Courses
Note: Both of these courses are available on audio CD and DVD from many public libraries
Argumentation: The Study of Effective Reasoning – A great audio course (12 hours total) on many aspects of argumentation, taught by Professor David Zarefsky of Northwestern University
Way with Words: Writing, Rhetoric and the Art of Persuasion – Another great audio course (also around 12 hours in length) that teaches the fundamentals of rhetoric and the persuasive arts, taught by Professor Michael Drout of Wheaton College
Books Mentioned on the Podcast
Sorted – Bill Bishop and Robert Cushing’s 2008 book on how Americans are sorting themselves into communities of the like minded, with dramatic political consequences
Thinking Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman’s bestseller that summarizes the work of him and his colleague Amos Tversky that revolutionized how we think about our own reasoning
Thank You for Arguing – Jay Heinrich’s entertaining and informative guide to argumentation and persuasion
Trust Me, I’m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator – Ryan Holiday’s exploration of the new media
The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to our Brains – Nicholas Carr’s Pulitzer-Prize nominated book on how the Internet is changing how we think
Proofiness: The Dark Arts of Mathematical Deception – Charles Seife’s analysis of why we allow numbers and quantitative information to manipulate us
Classical History and Philosophy Resources
Aristotle in 90 Minutes – An easy access ramp to many of Aristotle’s works.
The Dream of Reason: The History of Philosophy from the Greeks to the Renaissance – The first part of an ambitious two-volume project that will eventually cover all of Western philosophy, with volume one covering ancient thinkers such as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.
The History of Philosophy (Without Any Gaps) – Peter Adamson’s multi-year podcasting project will eventually cover all philosophy (as of now, he’s already gotten through the Greeks – including several great podcasts on Aristotle).
Masters of Greek Thought: Plato, Socrates and Aristotle – A CD-based class from The Great Courses company.
Additional Resources
CT2 – A new site that helps guide you through the selection of a critical thinking textbook.
Figaro-Speech – Jay Heinrichs’ web site demonstrating the use of rhetoric in our daily lives
Media Literacy – Frank Baker’s media literacy educational resource site