Everything's An Argument Chapter 4: Arguments Based on Facts and Reason: Logos Flashcards
What is “confirmation” or “myside” bias
the tendency to accept information that supports our beliefs
What do ancient Greek rhetoricians describe as logos?
steps to take whenever you deal with arguments based on facts and reason
What is the first step of reading a logos essay?
examine your own faith in any facts or bits of information you use or cite: do you really know what you’re talking about or are you simply echoing what others you know say or think?
What is the second step of logos writing?
become a conscientious fact-checker, digging eep to make sure claims are backed by the best available evidence
What is the final step of logos writing?
do not give up on facts and reason
What is fake news?
reporting by professional journalists whom they construe as inaccurate, selective, hostile, partial, or biased
Is biased writing the same as “fake news”
No - everyone has a bias, even the best journalists
What do you want to know when possible?
who produced or published the photo, video, or graphic, when and where it appeared, what the context of the original item was, who or what is in it. whether it has been in any way digitally altered
What are inartistic proofs
hard evidence that are arguments the writer/speaker is given
What are artistic proofs?
constructed arguments that the writer/speaker creates
Provide examples of inartistic proofs?
facts, statistics, testimonies, witnesses, contracts, and documents
Provide examples of artistic proofs?
appeals to reason and common sense
How will most arguments you read and write move?
easily and. naturally between possible means of persuasion
How is professional journalism and academic scholarship defined?
factual information transmitted faithfully to readers
Why do statistics rarely end arguments?
there are always more numbers, more facts
How can surveys and polls be important elements in scientific research
by documenting the complexities of human behavior or provide persuasive reasons for actions or intervention
What is a narrative or testimony?
a personal experience or observation used to support an argument
What kind of arguments can you turn to if you do not have “hard facts”
What Aristotle describes as arguments “constructed” from reason and common sense
What is a syllogism?
in formal logic, a structure or deductive logic in which correctly formed major and minor premises lead to a necessary conclusion
What is all human beings are mortal an example of?
a major premise
What is socrates is a human being and example of?
a minor premise
What is socrates is mortal an example of?
syllogism
What is a premise?
a statement or position regarded as true and upon which other claims are based
What is an enthymeme?
in classical rhetoric, an enthymeme is a syllogism with one term understood but not stated
What is the implied premise in arguments based on degree?
more of a good thing or less of a bad thing is good
What is an analogy?
an extended comparison between something unfair and something more familiar for the purpose of illuminating or dramatizing the unfamiliar
What is a precedent?
actions or judgements in the past that have established a pattern or model for subsequent decisions
What are precedents particularly important in?
legal cases
