Final Exam

Question 1

WHAT IS AN ARGUMENT?

Answer 1

• series of sentences in a reaction among each other
• has a conclusion( thesis)
• has premises

Question 2

THESIS?

Answer 2

• what you are trying to prove or show

Question 3

PREMISES?

Answer 3

• support or count in favour of the conclusion–> why is the conclusion true

Question 4

Are remises and conclusions claims or proposition that are true or false?

Answer 4

they can be either

Question 5

WHAT MAKES A GOOD ARGUMENT?

Answer 5

1. validity

2. soundness

Question 6

Validity?

Answer 6

• an argument is valid if it is impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion to be false
  (conclusion is right and premises are wrong. )

Question 7

Soundness?

Answer 7

• an argument is sound if it is valid and the premises are all true.

Question 8

Properties of an argument?

Answer 8

1. soundness

2. validity

Question 9

how to disagree with an author?

Answer 9

1. show that what they are saying is invalid

2. show that at least one of the premises is false

Question 10

good argument that aren’t valid?

Answer 10

1. inductive argument

2. Abductive argument

Question 11

Abductive arguments

Answer 11

• identifying a phenomenon that needs explaining, say P. We then offer what is taken to be best explanation, say Q. We then infer Q from P.

Question 12

Inductive arguments

Answer 12

-conclusion of an inductive argument doesn’t follow from the premises, the truth of the premises makes the conclusion plausible.

Question 13

what are good inductive arguments called?

Answer 13

cogent arguments

Question 14

Principal of Charity?

Answer 14

• not attributing claims to authors that they would not hold

Question 15

ARGUMENTATIVE FALLACIES?

Answer 15

1. fallacy of equivocation
2. begging the question
3. proving too much
4. ad Hominem arguments
5. appeal to authority
6. straw man arguments
7. affirming the consequent

Question 16

The fallacy of equivocation?

Answer 16

• Using key terms in different senses in different parts of the argument.

Question 17

Begging the question?

Answer 17

-One begs the question (or is involved in circular reasoning) when one assumes what one is trying to prove (or assumes something which is very close to what one is trying to prove).

Question 18

Proving too much?

Answer 18

• An argument proves too much if it is committed to a statement which has implications that are clearly false

Question 19

Ad Hominen arguments?

Answer 19

• These arguments involve personal attacks on the person making the argument, or some other person, rather than providing reasoned objections to the argument itsel

Question 20

Appeals to authority?

Answer 20

-never acceptable to ‘support’ your view by stating that some other philosopher, or anybody else for that matter, also held the same view.

Question 21

“Straw man”arguments?

Answer 21

Representing your opponent’s position or argument unfairly so that it is easier to shoot down.

Question 22

Affirming the consequent?

Answer 22

-Affirming the consequent is a logical fallacy that derives a conclusion A from the conditional claim ‘if A, then B’, and the affirmation that B is the case.