c r i t i c a l t h i n k i n g

Question 1

What is SYMBOLIC LOGIC?

Answer 1

Method of evaluating arguments by replacing each concept with a symbol & analyzing the relationship between the symbols (hence btwn the concepts)

Question 2

What is a FALLACY?

Answer 2

Pattern of bad reasoning.

Question 3

How many fallacies are there?

Answer 3

More than a hundred!

Question 4

What is LOGIC in terms of Philopsohy?

Answer 4

Method study of good reasoning. Analyses and defines difference btwn good & bad reasoning.

Question 5

What is ARISTOTELIAN LOGIC?

Answer 5

Propositional, in that it utilizes statements.

Question 6

What is a STATEMENT

Answer 6

Sentence expressing alleged fact. 2 important points: Sentences have form, structure. Structer can be analyzed on its own terms. Statements can be true or false. DO NOT CONFUSE TRUTH WITH VALIDITY!! Valid and True mean different things in logic.

Question 7

What is FORM?

Answer 7

Structure of a statement. How the pieces are put together.

Question 8

What is CONTENT?

Answer 8

Meaning of a statement. Refers to the concepts/ideas that are expressed in the sentence. Variables in the form are replaced by concepts in logic to give statements.

Question 9

What is subject-predicate?

Answer 9

The subject is the term/word/phrase which refers to object or event that the statement is “about”. The PREDICATE is a term referring to some property of the subject. The statement claims that the subject “is” the predicate. (ie: S is P)

Question 10

What is ARISTOTELIAN SYLLOGISM?

Answer 10

Always 2 premises and 1 conclusion. Modern systems of logic aren’t constrained by this rule - these days Philosophers will give arguments with any number of premises.

Question 11

What does it mean for a statement to be valid?

Answer 11

Impossible for the premises to be true & conclusion to be false. Property of argument as a whole, not of individual statements. It is about the relationship btwn the premises and the conclusion. “Validity establishes relevance btwn the premises and the conclusion.”

Question 12

Does a valid argument include a conclusion not supported by all premises?

Answer 12

NO! Not all premises are relevant to the conclusion makes argument invalid.

Question 13

Why is the argument “The sun is yellow and yellow is pretty, therefore the sun is pretty” VALID?

Answer 13

Reasons/premises (“the sun is yellow” and “yellow is pretty”) support the conclusion (“the sun is pretty”). Those reasons are relevant.

Question 14

What is an ARGUMENT?

Answer 14

Basic unit of philosophical discourse. Collection of statements of 2 kinds: premises and conclusion.

Question 15

What is a CONCLUSION?

Answer 15

Point trying to be proved, belief trying to be justify.

Question 16

What are PREMISES?

Answer 16

Reasons/evidence/justification for the conclusion. Must provide evidence to to think criticially.

Question 17

What is a SOUND argument?

Answer 17

Argument is valid AND had true premises. (ex: If alligators cause caner & we must eliminate the cause of cancer, then we must eliminate alligators. Argument is VALID bc premises support/are relevant to conclusion. However, the argument is UNSOUND bc the first premise is false - alligators are not the only cause of cancer.

Question 18

What does Aristotle’s Logic /all formal logical systems focus on?

Answer 18

Only VALIDITIY, not soundness. Whether a premise is true is separate from whether it will support a given conclusion.

Question 19

What was one of Aristotle’s greatest insights about logical validity?

Answer 19

Whether a premise logically supports a conclusion has northing to do with what the statements are about. It’s purely a function of logical form, of the structure of the statements themselves, & not of the content/meaning.

Question 20

What is SYLLOGISM?

Answer 20

Formal logical argument wherein if both premises are true, the conclusion must also be true. Valid arguments = syllogisms.

Question 21

What is the basic structure that all Aristotles syllogisms have?

Answer 21

2 premises (P1, P2) & 1 conclusion (T for “Thesis” or “therefore”) | P1 + P2 = T.

Question 22

What is the MIDDLE TERM?

Answer 22

Concept appearing in both premises but not conclusion. Acts as glue that holds conclusion together.

Question 23

Why is the middle term an important part of the argument?

Answer 23

It is the crucial concept that ties your chain of reasoning together.