Lecture 1 Flashcards
What is a statement/claim?
is an assertion that something is or not the case
What is a Proposition?
- The specific thought or idea that the statement expresses
- different statements conveying the same idea
- You can use the same statement to express different propositions
- “It will rain tomorrow” You can say that on different days, but it will not mean the same thing.
What is a premise?
A statement that is offered in support of a conclusion
What is a conclusion?
Is a statement that is held to be supported by one or more premises
What is an argument?
A set of statements one of which premises are indented to support one another.
3 steps to argument analysis?
- figure out if it’s an argument or not
- evaluate the argument
- reconstruct the argument
Why should we make sure it’s an argument?
- some texts are merely descriptive
- some texts offer only an opinion
- “if then” statement by itself, is not an argument (conditional claim)
Why should we evaluate an argument?
Arguments are not always presented/ written/stated in the clearest way
Why should we reconstruct an argument?
- some arguments have rhetorical arguments tend to be persuasive, but are not good arguments logically.
- An argument has rational strength when it has good reasons to beleive
What is the definition of Critical Thinking
- is the systematic analysis or formulation of arguments by rational standards
- not emotional and gut feelings
- analyze existing arguments that people make( with respect)
- We will evaluate arguments based on how much arguments support the conclusion
Why should we think critically?
- Because we really do care about the truth; about getting things right; about gaining knowledge; about avoiding false beliefs.
- our beliefs affect our choices and actions and so they play an enormous role in kind of person we are ( or will become); the kind of life we lead.
examples of having justified belief that is false?
- ex. Santa clause
- ex. flat earth
- They didn’t know, they believed and had justification
example of True proposition with justification, but no belief
- there are facts about far away planets, their can be justification. But no one discovered them yet
- There are truths and justification, but no one made the inference. Their is no scientific knowledge.