Arguments In Action

Question 1

What are premise indicator words ?

Answer 1

• The reason is…
• Given that…
• In view of the fact that…
• Because…
• Since…
• As…

Question 2

What are conclusion indicator words ?

Answer 2

• Therefore…
• Thus…
• So…
• Consequently…
• Hence…
• Accordingly

Question 3

What is an argument ?

Answer 3

A collection of statements intended to provide support for a particular claim

Question 4

What is a premise ?

Answer 4

The reasons given to support a particular claim

Question 5

What is a conclusion ?

Answer 5

The central claim that the argument is trying to prove

Question 6

What is a statement ?

Answer 6

• A declarative sentence that can be judged to be either True or false
• Can be an assert or deny

Question 7

What is a Question ?

Give an example

Answer 7

• A sentence worded or expressed to prompt information

* What day is it ?

Question 8

What is a command ?

Give example

Answer 8

A sentence that gives an order that should be followed

Open the door

Question 9

What is an Exclamation ?

Give example

Answer 9

A sentence that expresses, strong emotion or pain

Question 10

What is a Deny sentence ?

Give an example

Answer 10

To state that one refuses to admit the truth or existence of something

Today is not Tuesday

Question 11

What is an assert sentence ?

Give an example

Answer 11

To state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully

Today is Tuesday

Question 12

What is a prove sentence ?

Answer 12

Demonstrate the truth or existence of something by evidence or argument

Question 13

What is a refute sentence ?

Answer 13

Prove ( a statement it theory ) to be wrong or false ; disprove

Question 14

what is a valid argument?

Answer 14

One which would guarantee a true conclusion if the premises are true

Question 15

what is a invalid argument?

Answer 15

one which does not guarantee a true conclusion when the premises are true

Question 16

what is a sound argument?

Answer 16

A valid argument with true premises

Question 17

what is a unsound argument?

Answer 17

An argument that is either invalid or does not have true conclusions

Question 18

what are different fallacy’s?

Answer 18

• informal fallacy
• attacking the person (Ad Hominem)
• False Dilemma
• Slippery slope
• Illegitimate appeal to authority

Question 19

what is a informal fallacy?

Answer 19

An argument, which may be formally valid yet is fallacious because it has false premises or ambiguous terminology

Question 20

attacking the person

Answer 20

This fallacy is committed if it is argued that p is false on the ground that it is advanced by a particular person, for example because that person stands to gain from our acceptance of it as true or because that person’s behaviour is not consistent with the truth of p.

Question 21

false dilemma

Answer 21

This fallacy is committed if, in the course of an argument, it is presumed without argument that p and q are the only two possibilities, when in fact there are other possibilities

Question 22

slippery slope

Answer 22

An informal fallacy which claims that one thing will inevitably lead later to another, usually worse, state of affairs, without further argument

Question 23

Illegitimate appeal to authority

Answer 23

This fallacy is committed if a conclusion is inferred from the fact that some person or group asserts, without justifying the right of that person or group to be regarded as authoritative in this matter

Question 24

examples of a statement (2)

Answer 24

• animals have rights

- my hair is blue.

Question 25

example of argument (2)

Answer 25

• I think, therefore I am

- i can’t concentrate because i am tired

Question 26

example of attacking the person fallacy

Answer 26

• Boris will never make a good prime minister because he has no six-pack and is ugly and fat with no hair.

Question 27

example of illegitimate appeal to authority fallacy

Answer 27

those who say lie detector tests don’t work are mistaken. Jeremy Kyle uses it on his programme all the time, and private detectives say it works.

Question 28

example of slippery slope fallacy

Answer 28

if we don’t make cigarettes illegal then everyone will become addicted to them and toddlers will start smoking and then everyone will get addicted to other drugs and then the whole country will fall apart

Question 29

example of false dilemma fallacy

Answer 29

either you go to university, or you become unemployed. you don’t want to end up with no job, so you should go to university

Question 30

standard argument form

Answer 30

p1 premise 1
p2 premise 2
———————————-
c conclusion (without indicator word)

Question 31

what does it mean to put an argument in standard argument form?

Answer 31

• list and number all premises (indicated by p1 and p2 and so on) and state conclusion (indicated by the letter c)
• place inference bar between the premises and conclusion
• reword premises and conclusion as stand-alone, meaningful statements (such as removing premise and conclusion indicator words or pronouns)
• reword or remove any sentences which are not statements (questions or commands, exclamations)