critical thinking a student's introduction 7th edition

Critical Thinking 7th Edition

• Author(s) Gregory Bassham; William Irwin; Henry Nardone; James Wallace
• Publisher McGraw-Hill Higher Education (International)

Print ISBN 9781265204600, 1265204608

Etext isbn 9781265625870, 1265625875.

• Edition 7th
• Copyright 2023
• Available from € 36.14 EUR SKU: 9781265625870R365

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Critical Thinking 7th Edition is written by Gregory Bassham; William Irwin; Henry Nardone; James Wallace and published by McGraw-Hill Higher Education (International). The Digital and eTextbook ISBNs for Critical Thinking are 9781265625870, 1265625875 and the print ISBNs are 9781265204600, 1265204608. Save up to 80% versus print by going digital with VitalSource.

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Critical Thinking: A Student's Introduction 7th Edition

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Critical Thinking: An Introduction to the Basic Skills - Seventh Edition 7th Edition

Critical Thinking is a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the essential skills of good reasoning. The authors provide a thorough treatment of such central topics as deductive and inductive reasoning, logical fallacies, how to recognize and avoid ambiguity, and how to distinguish what is relevant from what is not. Later chapters discuss the application of critical thinking skills to particular topics and tasks, including scientific reasoning, moral reasoning, legal reasoning, media analysis, and essay writing. The book also provides complimentary access to a companion website containing additional questions, flashcards, and other useful critical thinking resources.

• ISBN-10 9781554811977
• ISBN-13 978-1554811977
• Edition 7th
• Publisher Broadview Press
• Publication date December 4, 2014
• Language English
• Dimensions 6.5 x 0.89 x 9 inches
• Print length 488 pages
• See all details

Editorial Reviews

“This textbook stands out from others for its clarity, which is due in large part to the conceptual organization of the material it covers. Rather than artificially carving out various aspects of critical thinking for individual treatment, the authors simply and carefully develop ideas, step by step. This approach makes clear how various aspects of careful, critical thinking come together, allowing students to develop their skills along the way.” ― Joshua Smith, Central Michigan University

“I cannot think of a better introduction to critical thinking that does not compromise philosophical rigor. … Not only does the book offer an excellent introduction to standard elements of critical thinking, it also addresses issues surrounding the media, assessing and organizing argumentative essays, and philosophical puzzles and paradoxes.” ― Mahesh Ananth, Indiana University, South Bend

“ … a text which is destined to make a noteworthy contribution to the critical thinking movement.” ― David Naugle, Dallas Baptist University

From the Back Cover

About the author.

The late William Hughes was Professor and Chair in the Philosophy Department at the University of Guelph.

Jonathan Lavery is Associate Professor of Society, Culture, and Environment at Wilfrid Laurier University, Brantford.

Katheryn Doran is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Hamilton College.

Product details

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ 155481197X
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Broadview Press; 7th edition (December 4, 2014)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 488 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781554811977
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1554811977
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 0.89 x 9 inches
• #777 in Philosophy of Logic & Language
• #1,363 in Introductory & Beginning Programming
• #5,663 in Core

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Kaliningrad: Russia’s Province in the Heart of Europe

Posted by: Theodora Ogden

15 March, 2020

By Theodora Ogden – Junior Fellow

Once part of the USSR’s ‘inner’ empire, after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Kaliningrad became an exclave. Nestled between Poland and Lithuania, the oblast (‘province’ or ‘region’) geographically sits within the confines of the EU bloc but is distinctly set apart. A former Prussian state, and previously part of the German Reich, Kaliningrad is now very much Russian, although it lies some 300 miles west of the rest of the nation, geographically cut off from the capital by Lithuania.

The city has served as an important strategic foothold throughout history. The site was previously home to a 13th century military fortress controlled by the Teutonic Order. Formerly known as Königsberg , the city was targeted by RAF bombers during WWII and most of the historic Prussian architecture and artefacts – according to some accounts the famous Amber Rooms – were destroyed by artillery fire with the advance of the Red Army.

The city was renamed Kaliningrad and the castle was demolished on the orders of Soviet politician Leonid Brezhnev in 1968. The Brutalist House of Soviets was constructed on top of the remains. The foundation of the building sank into the castle’s remnants below, rendering the structure unusable. The building was never finished and has been left abandoned, sparking tales of Prussian Revenge . Kaliningrad, initially planned as a model city, became the symbol of failed Soviet state planning, watched over by the concrete eyesore.

At the 1999 Washington Summit, NATO enlargement plans invited former Warsaw Pact countries Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic into the fold. A few years later, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia became new additions to NATO. Critics of NATO enlargement pointed out that Kaliningrad would become surrounded by NATO forces, prompting Russia’s territory to become a defensive outpost. Indeed, the oblast did not take too well to NATO intervention in the Baltic region. A bar in Kaliningrad famously bore the sign : “No beer will be served to customers from NATO nations”.

Roughly the size of northern Ireland and with a population of less than one million, Kaliningrad is an important military base. It provides access to the Baltic Sea and it is Russia’s only port that remains ice-free all year round. However, Kaliningrad is encircled by EU and NATO member states and their closely observed waters, which means that Russian naval force manoeuvres do not go unnoticed in the area. It is equally unlikely that Kaliningrad is an appropriate base from which to launch aircraft undetected.

The oblast is, however, an ideal location for interception and interference with allied communications, due to its vicinity to capitals and their embassies. Kaliningrad also serves as an early warning system for the rest of Russia in the case of an attack. It is home to advanced Integrated Air Defence Systems, as well as a score of military bases and storage facilities.

Historically, the city has been a key forward base. During the Cold War, the bulk of Kaliningrad’s income was generated by hosting the USSR military. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and a shrinking military presence, the oblast was geographically cut off from the rest of Russia by its neighbours. Formal Soviet trade links and agreements within the region were severed. Kaliningrad was left to enter separate markets: the Russian market, the Baltic market and the EU market.

The ports of Kaliningrad struggled to attract business. Not only were the port authorities unfamiliar with free trade, but the bureaucratic procedures were rigid and time-consuming. Instead, traders would turn to the competing ports of Gdansk, Riga and Tallinn. The subsequent poverty and high levels of unemployment and crime drew concern from nearby states.

In later years, intervention from the Kremlin, in addition to EU support, has improved prospects. Today, some Kaliningrad residents are reported to hope for closer ties to European neighbours despite sanctions on Russia, as well as the restoration of Prussian architectural heritage sites. Home and burial place of Immanuel Kant, the city has potential to become a cultural hub and a “natural laboratory for EU-Russia relations”.

In recent years the territory has become less isolated, even cosmopolitan, and offers a budding tourist spot for those intrigued by its history. While the majority of Russians rarely visit the EU, Kaliningrad residents travel frequently to neighbouring nations. Over 70% of Kaliningrad residents hold a passport, in comparison to a nationwide figure of under 30%.

However, Kaliningrad remains the subject of controversy and international tensions. In 2014, Russia unilaterally imposed a 500-kilometer flight route restriction over the oblast, going against the 2002 Open Skies Treaty (OST). The agreement signed by 34 nations, including the Russian Federation and the United States, permits unarmed aerial observation flights over partner states’ territories.

The United States has responded to the Russian Federation’s violations of the OST with threats to withdraw from the Treaty, which could put an end to military transparency. For now, the US remains a member, in part to maintain transatlantic ties and observation capabilities of Russian military developments and operations. A US exit from the OST could exacerbate international tensions, amid scrapping the  Iran Nuclear Deal  and the  Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty .

Some commentators reckon that the highly developed US satellite capabilities mean that the OST is an expensive and obsolete endeavour. Last year, President Donald Trump tweeted an aerial image of the aftermath of an explosion at Semnan Launch Site One at the Imam Khomeini Space Center in Iran, revealing the capabilities of what is presumed to be the highly classified USA 224, a multibillion-dollar KH-11 surveillance satellite launched in 2011. It marked the first time a satellite image of such sharpness was released into the public domain.

While US spy satellite capabilities may significantly outstrip the technology of surveillance flights under the agreement, the OST contributes to three essential elements of peace: security, stability, and verification. The Treaty offers a way for partner countries to share the data collected as well as the costs of surveillance flights. This builds trust and cooperation, particularly among nations without advanced satellite technologies. While the US does not often share the data collected by its satellites – and certainly not without substantial time taken for clearance and processing – images taken by observation flights can be shared more widely and quickly.

Above all, the Treaty provides reassurance to its signatories. Recent activity indicates that Russia is growing increasingly wary of US spy satellite activity. General John Raymond, commander of the United States Space Force reported that two Russian satellites have been following a US surveillance satellite. This incident is sparking concern as it marks the first such confrontation in space.

Kaliningrad lies at the core of the Open Skies Treaty dispute. It has become the permanent home of nuclear-capable Iskander-M, advanced mobile missiles with a range of up to 500 km and the manoeuvring capability to evade anti-ballistic missiles. This development comes as US and NATO forces installed SM-3 missiles in Romania and Poland, reportedly to defend against a potential Iranian rocket attack.

Such action, in addition to NATO exercises manoeuvres along Russia’s borders, have resulted in defensive reactions from Russian authorities. A vantage point to counter threats to the west, Kaliningrad is the key base from which Russia can launch an offensive or intercept attacks. Its strategic importance cannot be underestimated.

However, mounting tensions have a destabilising effect on the region. Furthermore, as a city that is finally starting to rise from its Soviet ashes, Kaliningrad risks remaining trapped between East and West. In 2016 , Western sanctions on Russia put an end to the oblast’s decade-long “special economic zone” privileges, which allowed duty-free trade with EU neighbours. This significantly affected the economy, slowing trade and growth. Nonetheless, Kaliningrad has persevered, hosting some matches in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and even becoming a designated tax haven .

Despite Kaliningrad’s rich and complex history, the city’s current aesthetic, economic stagnation and social instability is in need of attention. However, for as long as Russian authorities prioritise its military importance, Kaliningrad’s residents will have to wait.

Image: the Kaliningrad exclave (source: Alphathon/Wikimedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 )

About Theodora Ogden

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Kaliningrad: Impregnable Fortress or “Russian Alamo”?

The Baltic Sea port city of Kaliningrad, the seat of a sovereign exclave of the Russian Federation between Lithuania and Poland, in the Russian oblast (administrative region) bearing its name, has been a fortress since its founding as Konigsberg in 1255. The Soviet Union’s Red Army captured it from the Germans in April 1945 in one of the last combat operations in East Prussia. After the war, Konigsberg was renamed Kaliningrad in honor of the head of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Kalinin. As part of the August 1945 Potsdam Agreement, the city retained its fortress-like character as the leading edge of the USSR’s Baltic Military District and forward base of the Soviet Union’s Baltic Fleet from 1952 onward. The Soviet frigate Storozhevoy that mutinied and made a failed attempt to escape to Sweden in November 1975, and the Soviet S-363 submarine that famously grounded off the Swedish naval port of Karlskrona in 1981 in the “Whiskey on the Rocks” incident were both in the Baltic Fleet.

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990 left Kaliningrad as a Russian island in what increasingly became a NATO sea of new alliance members that included Poland and Lithuania, and a Baltic Sea that went from being a Cold War contested body of water to a NATO lake in just a decade. As a result of initial NATO encroachment in the 1990s and accelerating under the rule of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kaliningrad has regained its status as a fortress on the Baltic Sea, now armed with cruise missiles, surface-to-air-missile (SAM) batteries, the future submarines of the Baltic Fleet, and nuclear weapons. What then is Kaliningrad? A great Russian anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) fortress threatening safe transit of the Baltic Sea and the vulnerable Baltic States, or a lone outpost surrounded by adversaries—as was the Alamo in 1836, before the Texas revolutionaries within it were overrun?

  Kaliningrad’s Modern Ramparts

From the 1990s through early 2016, Kaliningrad’s military forces were relatively weak but got a significant boost by 2021 with heavy and diverse armaments—missiles, warships, armored vehicles, and troops. The latter consisted of the 11th Army Corps, whose composite ground force units had a nominal strength of 12,000 to 18,000 troops , including T-72 tanks, BTK armored personnel carriers, mobile rocket launchers, and artillery. In addition, the heavily mechanized 336th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade resided in the Kaliningrad oblast, equipped with BTR armored personnel carriers, with at least one battalion capable of air assault. The aircraft in the oblast included four squadrons equipped with a mix of Su-30SM, Su-24, and Su-27 aircraft that were supported by a robust air and missile defense, including four battalions of the S-400 SAM system.

In 2022, the Baltic Fleet contained 52 surface warships, including four of the new, cruise missile-armed Steregushchiy-class corvettes, one Kilo-class submarine, and numerous support vessels. Two of the fleet’s Buyan-class corvettes mount the Kaliber land-attack cruise missile.

The land-based missile arming of Kaliningrad was extensive and included dozens of nuclear-capable Iskander (SS-26) ballistic missiles (with a range of over 300 miles ) and the antiship Bastion-P missile system, featuring Oniks P-800 missiles (with a range of 75–210 nautical miles). A map from a 2021 Center for Naval Analyses (CNA) report on the force posture of Russia’s Western Military District shows the depth of Russia’s militarization of the oblast.

Ukraine War Losses Don’t Affect the Baltics

As with other elements of the Russian armed forces, the Russia-Ukraine war has taken a toll on forces originally based in Kaliningrad, as Russia has mobilized units from other regions to offset losses sustained in its invasion. Some US sources have reported that the 11th Army Corps was moved to Ukraine in spring 2022 and suffered heavy losses in combat near the city of Kharkiv in August and September. One battalion of the 336th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade has been reported as deployed to Ukraine as well.

Despite the loss of these ground forces, the air, naval, and missile armament of Kaliningrad remains mostly intact. In February 2023, Dutch F-35s intercepted Russian combat aircraft from Kaliningrad near Poland and escorted them out of Polish air space. In April 2023, German and UK Typhoon fighters intercepted Russian combat aircraft over the Baltic s . Russia’s Baltic Fleet also remains active with exercises late last year . Russia’s 2022 Maritime Doctrine suggests that the Russia will continue to press the boundaries of gray-zone warfare, which would certainly include the Baltic region. The Russian submarine force, arguably the most well-resourced and competent arm of the Russian Navy, remains unaffected by the Russia-Ukraine war, and while the Baltic Fleet now possesses one operational Kilo-class submarine, it could ultimately field upwards of six Lada-class advanced subs if their construction continues.

Kaliningrad in the Context of a Larger NATO in the Baltics

While its land-based component may be reduced significantly in numbers , Kaliningrad retains formidable armaments with which to threaten NATO resupply of the Baltic States—and now Finland—as alliance members. Until it develops a larger submarine force, much of the Russian threat resides within air and missile components of Kaliningrad’s armament. Research on that threat, in particular from the Yet Swedish Defense Research Agency (FOI) suggests that Russian ground-based radars and aircraft are essential to Russian surface-to-surface-missile command of the eastern Baltic region. Destruction of any of those parts of the Russian Federation’s Baltic reconnaissance strike complex could seriously reduce the range and effectiveness of Russian missile forces.

Despite this vulnerability to Russian missiles, NATO members Poland and Lithuania—whose territories separate Kaliningrad from Russian ally Belarus only by the 100-kilometer “Suwalki Gap”—remain vigilant against potential Russian aggression. Lithuania still refers to the Kaliningrad oblast as the “biggest threat in the region,” and Poland remains concerned about Russian artillery and missile attacks emanating from the Kaliningrad oblast against NATO nations. Poland recently moved a US-made HIMARS rocket battery near the Kaliningrad border, demonstrating continued concern for potential Russian aggression. Poland also continues to upgrade its ground forces with new mechanized units that could threaten Kaliningrad in return. NATO has long believed that Kaliningrad has been a deployment location for Russian nuclear weapons . Their continued presence further aggravates the security situation in the Baltic region.

Lynchpin or Liability?

Kaliningrad will remain of value to Russia as it is the only year-round, ice-free port of the Baltic Fleet. The weakened Russian ground-force presence in the oblast adds a degree of risk to any Russian operation in the region and reduces the local ground-based threat to Poland and Lithuania. While Russian troops might not threaten the "Suwalki Gap,” Russian aircraft, missiles, and warships based in the Kaliningrad oblast could still obstruct NATO resupply efforts. Kaliningrad, however well-armed, is still surrounded by NATO territory much as West Berlin was encircled by Soviet forces during the Cold War. Yet the specter of Russia’s use of nuclear weapons in defense of Kaliningrad may impede any major Western efforts against Russia’s Kaliningrad oblast. No doubt, NATO will continue to watch Kaliningrad and devise methods to limit its impact on the wider Baltic region.

Steve Wills is a Research Scientist with CNA’s Strategy and Policy Analysis Program. . As a Navy historian, his research interests include the history of U.S. Navy strategy development over the Cold War and immediate post-Cold War eras, and the post-World War II Navy surface fleet.

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Kaliningrad #

by Sergey Shandin, Stas Sedov and Dmitry Moiseenko, members of the AirPano Team that is a member of the global-geography Consortium .

19 February 2016

with kind permission of AirPano

The history of the westernmost region of Russia and its administrative centre, now called Kaliningrad, began in the 13th century, when the King of Bohemia Premysl Otakar II wanted to make his own contribution to the Northern Crusades. In 1255 he sent his forces to help the Teutonic Knights: that's when the fortress was founded at the mouth of the Pregolya River.

The fortress that got the name Königsberg (Latin: Regiomontium, meaning "King's Mountain") in honour of Premysl Otakar II, initially had been built out of wood, but in the two following years was replaced by a stone construction. In due course three different neighbouring towns were united by this name, though until 1724 each of them had been administratively independent: every town had its own town hall, a burgomaster, a court, etc. The interesting fact is that exactly in 1724 the great philosopher and the most famous native-born of the city, Immanuel Kant, was born here.

11 January 1758 is the date when the Russian forces entered Königsberg, and till the end of the Seven Years' War (1763) the city had been under the reign of the Russian Empire. Later Königsberg grew into the capital of the province of East Prussia. In 1871 the city became a part of the German Empire: this change resulted in the creation of several fortifications around the city that included 15 forts.

The new stage of the city's development was caused by the completion of the railway connecting Berlin and St. Petersburg in 1860. Later, in 1901, the opening of a ship canal between Königsberg and Pillau also contributed to the growth of the city. In 1919 Devau Airport was opened: it was the first civil airport in Germany and one of the first airports for general aviation in the world. In the 20th century the city overgrew the fortifying walls: new buildings, railway stations, churches were built. The new architectural styles called Bauhaus and Jugendstil (German for "Modern") started dominating in the city. Architects Hanns Hopp and Friedrich Heitmann were the persons to influence the appearance of the city more than others. The best example of architecture of that time is Amalienau District, that once was a suburban quarter, but now is a part of the Central District of Kaliningrad.

In August 1944, before the end of the World War II, the city of Königsberg suffered a series of bomb attacks performed by the British Air Forces. A lot of citizens died here, the area of Old Town was significantly damaged, many historical monuments, including Königsberg Castle, were ruined.

Later the Soviet forces entered the city, and this battle inflicted further damage for the architectural heritage of Königsberg. In 1945, according to the decision of the Potsdam Conference, the northern part of the German province East Prussia together with its capital Königsberg became a part of the Soviet Union. In 1946 the city's name, as well as the name of the whole region, was changed in honour of Mikhail Ivanovich Kalinin — the Soviet politician who died in the same year.

The third smashing attack which damaged the historical heritage of Kaliningrad occurred in the 60s-70s. In order to get rid of the German past, the Soviet leaders made a decision to destroy not only the ancient structures of the city, but the ruins of the castle as well.

Only in the end of the 20th century the attitude towards German architecture started changing, some of the buildings that had survived the war and the Soviet period were restored. The Church of the Holy Family, the church of Queen Louise (known as the Luisenkirche, now is the Kaliningrad Puppet Theatre) and the Königsberg Stock Exchange (now the Cultural Centre) are among them. Königsberg Cathedral, which had been the main catholic cathedral until the 16th century, is now used for museum exhibitions and concerts. This brick Gothic-style Cathedral is one of the very few Gothic buildings in Russia. There are two organs in the cathedral, one of them is considered to be the biggest organ in Europe.

Nine more historical cathedrals have been preserved in Kaliningrad. Juditten Church dated the 13th century (now is St. Nicholas Cathedral) is the oldest building in the city. There are also several reminders of the ancient battles that took place here: the elements of the Second Defensive Belt dated 1850s, the fort structure dated the 19th century and the King's gate built during the Seven Years' War. In 2005, during the preparations for the 750th anniversary of the city, the King's Gate was restored and became the major symbol of the celebration.

There are certain modern monuments in Kaliningrad: a 28-meter high Triumphal Column and the new Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, both located near newly-reconstructed Victory Square (former Hansaplatz, the Square of Hansa). Fortunately, despite all the losses of the 20th century, this city still has something to show you. Just open the panoramas and see it yourself!

This virtual tour was made with the financial support the Russian Geographical Society.

25 Panoramas of Kaliningrad