Think Again A Pelican Book

Think Again: How to Reason and Argue is a practical guide to constructive argument by philosopher Walter Sinnott-Armstrong. Published as a Pelican book in 2018, it responds to polarized public and personal debate by arguing that the purpose of reasoning should not be to “win,” humiliate an opponent, or merely reinforce one’s side, but to promote understanding, respect, and—where possible—compromise. The book explains how to recognize the structure of an argument: a conclusion supported by premises, or reasons. It then helps readers assess whether those reasons are relevant, sufficiently strong, clearly expressed, and supported by appropriate evidence. Along the way, it distinguishes genuine arguments from personal attacks, unsupported assertions, emotional manipulation, avoidance, and other forms of bad reasoning.