Flaws Flashcards
Steps
- Find the main conclusion.
- Find the premises.
Separate the premises from everything else. After you find the main point, don’t assume that all the other statements are premises. They might include an opposing viewpoint, background information, or a concession.
- Figure out why the premises don’t prove the main conclusion.
You have to accept the premises as true. But even when you do, they still won’t prove the conclusion. Why don’t they?
Focus on exactly what the argument is saying to avoid subconsciously helping it. You don’t want to make the very assumptions that the test writers are trying to hide. Your job is to catch those assumptions.
Many arguments, by the way, have more than one problem. The more you notice, the better. But after you spot one or two serious ones, you’re ready to read the answers.
Prediction
The test writers are telling you that this argument is flawed, so something must be wrong. Ideally, you’ll have already pinpointed at least one problem. But if not, take a moment to find one.
Make sure you can answer YES to both of these questions:
-Does this answer describe exactly what’s happening in the argument?
-Is this flaw a problem for this particular argument?
Check your answer by asking:
“If I fixed this flaw, would that significantly help this argument?” If it would, then that answer is probably correct.
Common phrasing:
-When an answer starts with “takes for granted” or “presumes, without providing justification,” treat that answer as a necessary assumption. Generally, when strongly worded, these answers are wrong and don’t need to be assumed.
-When an answer starts with “fails to consider the possibility” or “ignores the possibility,” treat that answer as an answer that’s trying to weaken the argument. If it would weaken the argument, if it were true, then it’s probably the correct answer. When these answers are weakly worded, they don’t do much to weaken the argument and are thus wrong.
