L1 Ch1 Intro and Recognizing Argumentation

Question 1

What is critical thinking according to the Delphi report, and Halpern

Answer 1

Delphi report (1990): Critical thinking =
Attitude + knowledge + thinking skills

Halpern: Critical thinking =
Reasoning + analysing arguments + reflection

Question 2

What is critical thinking in general?

Answer 2

Critical thinking =
* Identifying assumptions +
* Evaluating assumptions +
* Being able to view one’s own ideas from several perspectives +
* Be able to make well informed decisions based on the above

Question 3

What do you need to develop for a critical disposition?

Answer 3

• Flexibility
• Persistence
• Willingness to self-correct and admit errors
• Being mindful (Mindfulness = the simple act of drawing novel distinctions)

Question 4

What are the four steps in learning to think critically?

Answer 4

1. Explicitly learn the skills of critical thinking
2. Develop the disposition for effortful thinking and learning
3. Study in ways that increase the probability of transcontextual transfer
4. Make metacognitive monitoring explicit and overt

Question 5

What is scientific reasoning?

Answer 5

It differs from what we use in our daily life by
- Forming concepts with more precise definition,
- Systematic choice of experimental material
- Greater logical economy

Not too important, I adapted this from a quote

Question 6

What is scientific thinking?

Answer 6

• Thinking about the content of science
• The set of reasoning processes that permeate the field of science:
  
  • Induction, deduction, experimental design, causal reasoning, concept formation, hypothesis testing, etc.

Question 7

What is the argumentative theory of reason?

Answer 7

Reasoners are biased and lazy when they produce arguments, but demanding and objective when evaluating others’ arguments, especially ones that challenge their views.

Question 8

Identifying arguments

What are the 5 steps of argument assessment?

Answer 8

1. Develop a critical disposition
2. Learn to recognize (the elements of) arguments (Propositions, premises, and conclusions)
3. Learn to reconstruct arguments
4. Logical assessment
5. Factual assessment

Question 9

What is an argument?

Answer 9

An attempt to persuade by giving reasons (not necessarily good reasons for you)
It’s made up of propositions

Question 10

What is an explanation?

Answer 10

An attempt to illustrate why something is the case, not that something is the case

Question 11

What is rhetoric?

Answer 11

Any verbal or written attempt to persuade solely through the power of words used, rather than through (good) reason.

Question 12

What is a declarative sentence?

Answer 12

A declarative sentence usually contains more information than just the proposition/factual content
E.g. Rhetoric, implicature, explanations

Question 13

Is an argument the only type of an attempt to persuade?

Answer 13

No,
There are many different types of attempts to persuade
E.g. Argument, rhetorical devices

Question 14

What are the steps of analysing attempts to persuade?

Answer 14

1. Identify the issue being discussed
   a. Is there an attempt to persuade by means of argument?
2. Reconstruct the argument to express it clearly
3. Evaluate the argument

Question 15

What are arguments used for?

Answer 15

• Arguments are used to either advance an opinion/claim or recommend an action
  
  • This can be done together by recommending an action by advancing a claim to the effect that the reader does something (you should use less plastic)
• Arguments are attempts to provide reasons for thinking that some claim is true.
  
  • ‘To say that a claim is true is to say that what is claimed is how things actually are’

Question 16

Does a single claim constitute an argument?

Answer 16

No, an argument needs the claim the arguer hopes to convince as true and a claim offered to support that claim

Question 17

What is a conclusion?

Answer 17

The primary claim that we are trying to get others to accept

Question 18

What is a premise?

Answer 18

The claims intending to give us reasons for accepting the conclusion.

Question 19

What is a proposition?

Answer 19

The factual context expressed by a declarative sentence on a particular occasion.

Question 20

What is an argument in terms of propositions?

Answer 20

A set of propositions of which one is a conclusion and the remainder are premises, intended as support for the conclusion.

Question 21

What are Indexicals?

Answer 21

The meaning of an indexical changes relative to its context of use or relative to the person to whom it refers
E.g. “I am the best lecturer” has different meanings depending on who “I” refers to

Question 22

Tips for recognising conclusions

Answer 22

What is the main point of the text?
Look for conclusion indicators
(When writing in standard form, omit indicators.)
Remember, a conclusion doesn’t have to be a good one, it could be any proposition

Question 23

Tips for recognising premises

Answer 23

What are the reasons given by the author for this conclusion?
Watch out for implicit premises as well.

Question 24

Extraneous material

Answer 24

Make sure to separate it from the propositions when reconstructing arguments into standard form

Question 25

Next few flashcards are about identifying arguments vs explanations

Arguments vs explanations:
Cause and effect

Answer 25

Work out whether they intend to assert a relation of cause and effect, if so, the sentence is an explanation, not an argument.

Question 26

Arguments vs explanations:
Facts

Answer 26

In an explanation, there’s no need to persuade because the person assumes that the fact is true, and explains why.
In an argument, the arguer is giving reason for the fact.

Question 27

Arguments vs explanations:
Indicator words

Answer 27

• Some indicators words don’t indicate a premise, but is used in the sentence itself normally.
• Especially ‘because’.
  
  • An explanation uses ‘because’ to indicate a causal relationship
  • An argument uses ‘because’ as a logical connection between premise and conclusion.

Question 28

What are intermediate conclusions?

Answer 28

When the conclusion of one argument can serve as a premise for another argument.
If so, number the conclusion in standard form