Arguments and Critical Thinking

Question 1

What is an argument?

Answer 1

Has very SPECIFIC meaning in logic; DIFFERENT from some of our everyday uses of the term; does Not mean a verbal fight;
Rather it is a group of STATEMENTS, one or more of which (the premises) are claimed to provide support for, or reasons to believe one of the others (the conclusion).

Question 2

What makes up and argument?

Answer 2

1. At least one premise (claimed evidence)

2. EXACTLY one conclusion (what is claimed to follow from the evidence).

Question 3

What is a statement?

Answer 3

1. A sentence that is either TRUE or FALSE; premises and conclusions are statements
2. Questions, proposals, suggestions, commands, and exclamations are NOT statements because they CANNOT be true or false.

Question 4

Good vs Bad Arguments

Answer 4

Good arguments have premises that support the conclusion, while bad arguments have premises that do NOT support the conclusion (though they claim to).