Chapter 12 Flashcards
Conductive arguments and counter considerations
Q: What is a conductive argument?
A: Argument in which the pattern of support is convergent (not linked; compare chapter 2) and premises are put forward as being separately relevant to the conclusion. Counter considerations may be acknowledged by the arguer. In discussions outside this text conductive arguments have been called good reasons arguments, culmination of consideration arguments, or balance of consideration arguments.
Q: What is a counter consideration?
A: Claim that is negatively relevant to the conclusion of an argument. Counter considerations may be explicitly acknowledged by an arguer, as is reasonably common in conductive arguments. In this case, the arguer is committed to the claim that his stated premises outweigh the counter considerations. Often arguers fail to acknowledge or mention counter considerations, and critics have to discover for themselves to fully evaluate an argument.
Q: What is generality of reasons?
A: Refers to the fact that a reason is never a reason solely in one case. If X is a reason for doing A in a circumstance, then other things being equal, X is a reason for doing A in circumstances. This point may be stated in another way: if X is a reason for doing A in other circumstances. This point may be stated in another: if X is a reason for doing A in one circumstance. Relevantly similar circumstances are the circumstances in which other things are equal. The questions that arise are: What are the other things that have to be equal? What are the relevant similarities between circumstances with respect to doing A?
Q: What is ceteris paribus?
A: Latin expression that means “other things being equal”
Q: What is a ceteris paribus clause?
A: A clause specifying that a principle or connection holds “other things being equal.” Most “reasons” statements have an implicit ceteris paribus clause. To say that X is reason for doing A is to say that other things being equal, if X then we should do A. The ceteris paribus clause recognizes that there can be a range of exceptions: those cases in which other things are not equal.
Q: what is tunnel vision?
A: Single-minded view of an issue that takes one relevant factor and exaggerates its importance to make it only relevant factor. With tunnel vision, we oversimplify. One manifestation of tunnel vision is to attempt to resolve complex issues with deductive arguments when conductive ones, including counter considerations, would be appropriate
Q: What is an objection?
A: See counter consideration
Q: What is an alternative position?
A: Position distinct from, and incompatible with, the one under consideration. For Example, if someone has argued that genetically modified foods are proven to be safe, alternative positions would be (a) genetically modified foods have not been proven to be safe or (b) genetically modified foods have been proven to be dangerous.
Q: What is a confirmation bias?
A: Tendency to notice, credit, and recall information and arguments that support one’s beliefs and opinions while ignoring, forgetting, or discrediting information and arguments that disconfirm those beliefs and opinions
