Lecture 05 Uses of Argument

Question 0

What is meant by initial conditions?

Answer 0

We mean those facts in the context of that, together with appropriate General principles and laws, allow us to derive the result that the event can be explained.

Question 1

What are some uses of arguments?

Answer 1

Justification, Explanation and combination of the two. Pg 5-10. Refutation Pg 381 Excuses (lecture notes)

Question 2

What is it to Refute an argument?

Answer 2

To refute an argument is to show that it is no good

Question 3

How can an argument be used to refute another argument or claim?

Answer 3

Counter examples,

Reductio ad Absurdum,

parallel reasoning.

Pg 381

Question 4

Describe the fallacy of attacking straw men.

Answer 4

Before trying to refute someone’s claim, it is important to make sure you understand his or her position. If you mis understand what your opponent is claiming, but you go ahead and attack a specific claim anyway, then the claim you will attack will not be the claim your opponent made. You might even fail to refute any position that anyone ever really held. This is called the fallacy of attacking straw men. Pg 390

Question 5

What are some variances of absurdity?

Answer 5

Contraries, contradictories, contradictions, attacking strawmen.

Question 6

What are the 4 uses of arguments.

Answer 6

Justification, Refutation, Explanation, and Excuses.

Question 7

What are the 2 types of Justifications

Answer 7

Impersonal (Normative), Personal.

Question 8

What are the 4 methods of Refutation.

Answer 8

Counter examples, Reductio ad Absurdum, Attacking Straw Men, Parallel reasoning.

Question 9

Explain excuses.

Answer 9

Some argument B counts as an excuse of a prima facie reprehensible action A if and only if B is an explanation of A and puts A in a better light by reducing the agent’s responsibility.

Question 10

What is the standard form of a reductio argument

Answer 10

X implies Y But Y is absurd (obviously false or unacceptable) ————–——— Assertion X should be rejected

Question 11

Explain justifications

Answer 11

An argument’s conclusion is justificatory

iff it offers reasons to justify some disputed claim which is its Conclusion.

Question 12

Explain the use of counter examples

Answer 12

One type of claim we might seek to refute is a universal claim. Refuting some such universal or general claim X can be achieved by pointing to counterexamples (i.e. exceptions to the general claim) and thereby concluding that X is false.

Question 13

Refutation. How do I refute X.

Answer 13

Justify ‘Not X’.

Question 14

What are 2 ways of proving absurdity

Answer 14

Contradict and Contrary example

Question 15

What 2 types of arguments can reduction to absurdity be used.

Answer 15

Universal and General claims.