Chapter 2_ Recognizing Arguments
[Link] (lap luan)
Definition: Arguments are composed of one or more premises and a conclusion.
A claim defended with reasons
Argument is comprised of:
Premise: an idea or theory on which a statement or action is based.
Premise are statements in an argument offered as evidence or reasons why we should
accept another statement, the conclusion.
A conclusion is a statement in an argument that the premises are intended to prove or
support
Arguments come in al shapes of forms. Logician use a form of the following kiind:
Premise 1: All men are mortal
Premise 2: Socrates is a man
Conclusions: Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
Example
Premise 1: All students are not gifted with talent
Premise 2: Talent can be practiced
Conclusion: Hence, all students can be talented without being gifted.
Identifying premises and conclusions
With indicators
Look for premise indicators that provide clues when premises are being offered.
Example: because, since, for, given that, as, judging from, and seeing that.
Look for conclusion indicators that provide clues when conclusions are being offered
Examples: therefore, thus, hence, so, as a result, accordingly, consequently
and which shows that.
If the passage contains no indicator words, try these two strategies:
• Ask yourself, "What claim is the writer or speaker trying to prove?" That claim will be the
conclusion.
• Try putting the word "therefore" before each of the statements in turn. The statement it fits
best will be the conclusion.
Example: Make a will. Otherwise, the state will determine who gets your stuff.
Premise: Unless you make a will, the state will determine who gets your stuff.
Conclusion: You should make a will
The word “Otherwise” often functions as premise indicator.
Note:
Both the premise and the conclusion have been rephrased slightly:
The premise has been rephrased in order to make it a complete sentence.
The conclusion has been restated in order to make clear that it is intended as a statement
rather than as a command.
What is not an argument?
Reports A statement or group of statements intended simply to convey
information about a subject.
Unsupported statement Is a statement or set of statements in which the speaker or writer
of belief or opinions expresses his or her personal opinion, but offers no reasons or
evidence to back up that opinion.
Illustration Is a passage intended to provide examples that illustrate or support a
claim, not to provide convincing evidence that the claim is true.
Conditional Statements Is an if-then statement. It is an assertion that such-and-such is true if
something else is true.
Explanations Is a statement or set of statements that seeks to provide an account
of why something has occurred or why something is the case
Reports:
More people moved to the south this year
Oil prices dropped today, thus so gas prices
Unsupported assumptions
People aren’t afraid of dying; they are afraid of not living.
People like this course because of the professor.
Note: The presence of premise indicator, but not a premise.
Conditional statements
if it rains
Conditionals are not arguments, but they can look like them.
Conditional: If I was taller, I would play basketball
Argument: I am tall, so I would make a good basketball player
Illustrations:
Many
Explanations:
Tries to show why something is the case (not argue that it is the case).
Usually offers up a causal explanation for something that is already accepted as true
Titanic sank because it struck an iceberg. (explanation)
Capital Punishment is wrong because it is murder. (argument)
"I ski because I think it is fun." (explanation)
Arguments vs. Explanation
The common-knowledge test
• If it points at something that is common knowledge, it is probably an explanation.
• Most people don't present arguments for things people already believe.
• Example: "TV is very influential in society because most people watch it.
The past-event test
• If it points at a past event, it is probably an explanation.
• Usually people don't argue "X occurred."
The Author's Intent Test:
• Ask if the person making the statement is trying to "prove" something or explain why
something is true.
Ex: You want a college degree because you want a better life.
The Principle of Charity Test:
• Interpret generously: a bad argument assume it is not an argument.
• The Test: If you have a choice between interpreting a statement as a "bad argument" ai an
"unsatisfactory explanation," do the latter. A bad argument is a worse mistake.
[Link]
A definite or clear expression of something in speech or writing.
A statement is a sentence that can be viewed as either true or false.
A statement is a sentence that makes good grammatical sense when it is prefaced with
the words “It is true that” … or “
Four things should be noted about statement:
A sentence may be used to express more than one statement.
A statement can sometimes be expressed as a phrase or an incomplete clause, rather
than as a complete declarative clause.
Not all sentences are statements, that is, sentences that ether assert or deny something is
the case
Statements can be about subjective matters of personal experience as well as objectively
verifiable matters of facts
Tricky statement - Rhetorical questions
An advice a statement
Rhetorical questions are sentences that have the grammatical form of questioins but are
meant to be understood as assertions.
Ex:Don’t you realize how bad that is for your health” advice/warning: smoking is bad for
your health.
Tricky statement - Ought imperatives (cau menh lenh)
Express a judgment about what ought to be done
Ex: “Do not read beauty magazine. They will only make you feel ugly”
It is an advise or value judgements, not a command.
Exercise
Yes No
[Link] punishment is wrong Yes
2. Can vegetarians eat animal No(question)
crackers? (George Carlin)
3. Ted Williams is the greatest hitter Yes
in baseball history.
4. What do you say we stop at the No
next rest stop?
5. Abraham Lincoln was the first Yes
president of the United States.
6. Let’s party! No (suggestion)
7. Great! Yes (empathetic way)
8. Keep off the grass (sign) No (command
9. If Sally calls, tell her I’m at the No (order/request)
library.
10. I hope Peter likes his new job.