Preview

Philosophy 111

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2346 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Philosophy 111
hat is logic about? * Logic is about reasoning, i.e., about the way we infer one thing from another. * More specifically, logic deals with correct reasoning, and explains why certain forms of inference are correct while other forms are not. That is, it studies the abstract forms, the structures of reasoning that are used in argumentation. * More explicitly, logic evaluates arguments. But what is an argument? * In English, the terms 'argument' and 'arguing' are frequently used in a way that is slightly different from the one we'll be using in this class. * Generally we use the term 'argument' to refer to a dispute or disagreement and 'arguing' to refer to the activity of disagreeing. The two ways of using the terms, while different, are not entirely unrelated, for when we are involved in disagreement or dispute, we often try to show that our position is correct by stating evidence to support it. * In dealing with problems of logic and reasoning, the word 'argument' most commonly refers to a set of sentences related in such a way that some of the sentences purport to provide evidence for one of the sentences, without any suggestion of dispute or disagreement. * More specifically, an argument is a set of sentences consisting of one or more premises (the starting assumptions) and a conclusion, which is supposed to follow from the premises. * A sentence (or declarative sentence) is a statement that can be true or false. * Intuitively, a good argument gives the premises as reasons for believing the conclusion. Varieties of arguments * Rather artificially, arguments where the premise don't fully guarantee the conclusion, but make it likely or probable are called inductive (or even abductive) arguments. That is, inductive or abductive arguments only provide a partial degree of support for the conclusion (e.g., empirical sciences, etc.) * By contrast, arguments where the truth of the premises is

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    To test the thesis that argument can be found everywhere, read “The Argument Culture” starting on page (636) [634]. In an MS Word document, copy and paste an example of an argument and explain why it can be defined as such. Your example should focus on an issue about which there is significant and rational disagreement. Summarize the issue and spell out the reasons and evidence offered. This is most easily achieved by completing the statement “This arguer wants us to believe . . . because . . ..” (See #1 of “Practice,” page (680) [678].)…

    • 647 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    An argument is a means to a solution. Thank You For Arguing by Jay Heinrichs shows readers how best to win an argument with 28 concepts. Three concepts that I believe are most important in the development of a successful argument are set your goals, speak your audience’s language, and finally give a persuasive talk.…

    • 696 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Argument is an important activity in the advancement of knowledge and society. There are many ways to express your self in this world, art, music, writing, speaking, etc. Within those things are countless approaches to getting your point across, or defending your side of an argument. Some of these methods are more effective at showing others that your way is the right way.…

    • 1215 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    It consists of a group of statements with one or more statements (premises) supporting another statement (conclusion). In Critical Thinking, argument is an act of presenting reasons to support individual’s position or point of view. It is not quarrel or dispute. By "argument," we mean a demonstration or a proof of some statement, not emotional language. E.g., "That bird is a crow; therefore, it's black."…

    • 633 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    -When I see the word argument I think of two people arguing back and forth due to a disagreement out of anger and frustration. But in reality an argument is dealing with an issue or making a point.…

    • 992 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    order to have an argument one must be attempting to prove or justify one statement (the…

    • 5131 Words
    • 19 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Best Essays

    Collaboration and Argument

    • 2218 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Argument is defined as controversy or the implication of expression through opinions for an effort to persuade; for the submission that provides support or is in contrast to some idea.…

    • 2218 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    o far we have looked at how to construct arguments and how to evaluate them. We’ve seen that arguments are constructed from sentences, with some sentences providing reasons, or premises, for another sentence, the conclusion. The purpose of arguments is to provide support for a conclusion. In a valid deductive argument, we must accept the conclusion as true if we accept the premises as true. A sound deductive argument is valid, and the premises are taken to be true. Inductive arguments, in contrast, are evaluated on a continuous scale from very strong to very weak: the stronger the inductive argument, the more likely the conclusion, given the premises.…

    • 13498 Words
    • 54 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Argue Analysis Worksheet

    • 3144 Words
    • 13 Pages

    • An argument is valid if its premises necessarily lead to its conclusion. That is, if you accept that the premises are all true, you must accept that the conclusion is true.…

    • 3144 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    1. What is a logical argument? A course of methodical reasoning directed to validate the truth or falsehood…

    • 669 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Rhetorical Devices

    • 624 Words
    • 3 Pages

    6. Argument - A form of discourse in which reason is used to influence or change…

    • 624 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    1) I thought that this chapter was going to surmise that arguing is a pointless thing and I thought the chapter was going to go on to explain what arguing is. What I learned later on in the chapter is that arguing is an actual skill. There are different points of view to arguing and different styles of arguing.…

    • 420 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Rhetoric and Argument

    • 1323 Words
    • 5 Pages

    An argument can take many forms. It is, at its root, a method for communicating a singular…

    • 1323 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    M1A3 HUM 440 A01

    • 341 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Some refer to an argument as a heated quarrel, others a formal debate. When critical thinking is applied to an exchange of opinions between two or people, an argument ensues where a deeper, more accurate understanding of an issue occurs. Within an argument there is a premise and conclusion (Ruggiero, 82). A premise is a statement that is the basis of an argument, and will lead to a conclusion. The “word therefore and synonyms such as so and consequently are often used to identify conclusions.” A conclusion is a deduction based on the premise.…

    • 341 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Collaboration Paper

    • 2120 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Argument is defined as a debate or the implication of expression through opinions for an…

    • 2120 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays