Lecture 3

Question 1

What makes Q a necessary condition for p.

Give an example

Answer 1

Q must be there for p to be there. E. G: being made of grapes is necessary for a drink to be wine. However this is not enough for a drink to be wine.

Question 2

What makes p a sufficient condition for q?

Give an example.

Answer 2

If p is sufficient for q, then p’s obtaining is enough for q to obtain.
Eating a large lasagne is sufficient to eating lasagne.
Sometimes p being the case may not be necessary for q. E. G: I could eat a small lasagne to eat some lasagne.

Question 3

What is a conditional?

Answer 3

A claim of the form if p then q.
If the wind is strong tomorrow then apples will fall off the tree
P here is the antecedent. (think anticipation)
Q is the consequent.

Question 4

What is the principle of charity?

Answer 4

Giving the most sensible interpretation of the person who’s argument you’re trying to reconstruct. (benefit of the doubt.)

Question 5

What do we do to assess an argument?

Answer 5

Assess if the claims being put forward are true or likely to be true.
Are they connected to each other in the right way.

Question 6

What is validity in an argument?

Answer 6

An argument is valid if its not possible for its premises to be true and its conclusions false.
E. G: all philosophers are 6ft+. Jenny is Philosopher. Jenny is over 6ft.

Question 7

What is invalidity?

Answer 7

A situation where arguments are true but the conclusion is false. Invalidity can be demonstrated with a counter example:
E. G: all cats like catnip. Some catnip is organic. So some cats like organic catnip.
Counter: all students like bread. Some bread is mouldy. Some students like mouldy bread.