traditions, 188-89
Jains’ diets as example, 189
Trial, The (Kafka), 311
trials, 316-19
Truman, Harry S., 97, 125
truth, 9-10, 25, 38, 331
and converse of the statement, 302
emotional, 179-80
kinds of, 28, 31
proverbs as half-truths, 53
of two contradictions, 112, 174, 175
using uniform field theory, 249-83
tu quoque, 69, 280, 308
TV. See mass media
Twain, Mark, 21, 41
p. 363 Tyco International Ltd., 21
tyranny of numbers and size, 151
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W
U
Ulysses, 322
unbirthdays, 309
unconscious mind, 178, 209
undistributed middle error in syllogism, 77
uniform field theory, 249-83
universal affirmative, 77
universal negative, 77
University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 110, 113
unreasonable thinking, 75
unrepresentative data, 277
unsubstantiated assertions. See assertions
unwarranted assumptions, 242, 262
in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, 292
fallacy of composition, 262-63
irrelevant evidence, 281
unwarranted generalization, 264
US Coast Guard Tidal Tables as example, 264
US News & World Report, 252
US Supreme Court, 152
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W
V
vague definitions. See definitions
valid syllogisms, 77
variables, 130
verecundiam. See argumentum ad verecundiam
verification, 34
vested interests. See self-interest
Villa, Pancho, 47-48
violence as an argument. See argumentum ad baculum
Virginia Slims as example, 238-39
W
Waksal, Samuel, 114
Washington, George, 312
Washington Post, 174
Watergate, 320
Watkins, Sherron S., 17
Weil, Simone, 166
We Were Soldiers (movie), 50-51
Whitman, Walt, 157-58
Wilde, Oscar, 9, 23
Willett, William, 190-91
Wilson, Woodrow, 48, 49, 66
Winnick, Gary, 233
win-win situations, 106
Wise, Christina, 186-87
wishful thinking, 11, 197, 262, 281
empty fuel tank example, 11-13
words, 106-08, 110, 122-23
Publication Information
About Truth, Knowledge, or Just Plain Bull
“I wish I had the benefit of Bernard Patten’s book when I taught logic to college freshman years ago. The book is practical, clear, interesting, opinionated, and sometimes quite funny.”
—Mary McIntire, Dean of the School of Continuing Studies
Rice University
“Truth, Knowledge, or Just Plain Bull discusses neurology, politics, economics, and sociology, combined with the thrust of a self-help book, ensconced in the field of philosophy and logic. Dr. Patten [offers] cogent advice on maintaining a reasonable perspective in life, as well as trying to have fun. . . . The book should prove interesting and entertaining to those interested in logic, philosophy, politics, and surviving at the office.”
—David B. Rosenfeld, MD
Author of Dick Swept, M.D.: Tomorrow the World
“I have always wanted to see a book on clear thinking by someone who has demonstrated its value in his own life. I’ve finally found it! . . . The book will be a terrific addition to stuffy logic courses, helping to show the relevance of sound principles to students’ lives. But it is just as suitable for the person who reads for pleasure and intellectual stimulation.”
—Richard T. Hull, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy
State University of New York at Buffalo
Want to sort out the claims of experts, pseudoexperts, scam artists, and liars alike? In this erudite yet entertaining handbook on critical thinking, Dr. Bernard M. Patten uses neuroscience, psychology, psychiatry, and plain logic to teach you to do all this and more. Patten shows that clear thinking is not only fun but keeps you out of trouble, makes you more efficient, helps you develop and maintain prosperity, and generally gives you an edge in both your personal and business life.
With his scientific background and philosophical training, Patten offers readers the most reliable and current information on how the brain thinks, learns, and remembers. By means of many startling contemporary examples and insights, the author exercises your mind—so you acquire valuable knowledge quickly and painlessly.
Fast, fact-filled, and fun, this superb self-help guide to better thinking teaches you to take control of your own destiny by accurately determining the truth of statements and behaviors in many contexts.
Dr. Bernard M. Patten, now retired, was formerly the chief of the Neuromuscular Disease Division, vice chairman of the Department of Neurology, and attending neurologist at the Baylor College of Medicine. He now lectures on clear thinking, mental gymnastics, logic, and neuroscience at Rice University and the Women’s Institute of Houston.
Prometheus Books
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Amherst, New York 14228-2197
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Cover Design by Jeff Schaller
Copyright Notice
Published 2004 by Prometheus Books
Truth, Knowledge, or Just Plain Bull: How to Tell the Difference. Copyright ® 2004 by Bernard M. Patten. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, digital, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, or conveyed via the Internet or a Web site without prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Patten, Bernard M.
Truth, knowledge, or just plain bull : how to tell the difference / Bernard M. Patten.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-59102-246-0 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Critical thinking. I. Title.
B809.2.P37 2004
160—dc22
2004011546
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper
eBook Version Notes
v1.0 February 2006 – Desktop & PocketPC .lit
Scan, conversion, and proofing.
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