Chapter 5 - Strategies for Assessing Arguments

Question 1

What is the double claim made by arguments to support their conclusions?

Answer 1

a) Its premises are true
b) The premises support the conclusion

Question 2

What is the fallacies approach for assessing arguments?

Answer 2

Identify all of the fallacies an argument can make and then ask if the argument commits any of the fallacies.

Question 3

What is the criterial approach to assessing arguments?

Answer 3

Appeal to the criteria that a good argument must be satisfy and ask whether a given argument meets these criteria.

Question 4

What is a fallacy?

Answer 4

Any error or weakness that detracts from the soundness of an argument yet somehow manages to disguise itself so as to give the argument the appearance of being better than it really is.

Question 5

What is the appeal to pity fallacy?

Answer 5

Making an argument and using pity as a premise.

Question 6

What is the underlying problem with the fallacies approach of assessing arguments?

Answer 6

It is negative in nature. Only tells us what we should avoid.

Question 7

Why might the criterial approach be preferred to the fallacies approach?

Answer 7

It is positive in nature; tells us what we should do in order to ensure a good argument.

Question 8

What are the three criteria of a sound argument?

Answer 8

1. Acceptability
2. Relevance
3. Adequacy

Question 9

What does it mean for an argument to be acceptable?

Answer 9

There are good reasons for accepting the premises.

Question 10

What does it mean for an argument to be relevant?

Answer 10

Its premises are relevant to the conclusion.

Question 11

What does it mean for an argument to be adequate?

Answer 11

Its premises are adequate to support the conclusion.

Question 12

What is important to remember about adequacy?

Answer 12

It is a matter of degree.

Question 13

What are the 7 rules for assessing arguments?

Answer 13

1. Identify the main conclusion
2. Identify the premises
3. Identify the structure of the argument
4. Check the acceptability of the premises
5. Check the relevance of the premises
6. Check the adequacy of the premises
7. Look for counter-arguments

Question 14

Does a false premise automatically deprive the conclusion of all support?

Answer 14

No; for example, if an argument has two independent premises, one premise may be false but that does not make the other premise automatically false as well.

Question 15

How can we assess the adequacy of the premises?

Answer 15

Notice the degree of support that the argument claims is provided by the premises.