Lecture 6 Flashcards
The components of “standard Form”
- individually numbered premises and conclusions
- only one premise or conclusion per line
- the word “therefore” or the equivalent symbol(:.)
- the word probably before the conclusion, if inductive
- after the conclusion, in brackets, should be justification
a) the number of the premises that support the conclusion
b)the name of the argument pattern (if it has a name)
Principle of charity
- DON’T twist other people’s words (either for the better or the worse)
- DO be fair when you express somebody’s position
- make an argument as strong as possible…
How to recognize arguments
- look for a conclusion
- Ask yourself , is the author trying to get me to believe something by giving me reasons in support of it?
If yes: It is probably an argument
if no: it is probably not an argument
Some techniques for identifying conclusions
1) try to ignore non argumentative material (such as descriptive writing and rhetorical writing)
2) Remember that any proposition on any topic expresses by any person at a time can be a conclusion
3) Ask yourself: What is the overall point of the (argumentative proportion of the text/speech? the will likely the main conclusion
Be careful with these common expressions
“My arguments is that…”
“I would argue that…”
Typically, what comes next isn’t an argument at all- it’s just the conclusion.
Remember that one text/ speech may well contain
- several independent arguments
- sub arguments (we’ll see arguments inside another argument
look for conclusion- indicators, such as
- thus
- therefore
- hence
- entail
- implies
- it follows that
- we may conclude
- this proves that
- consequently
- so
- establishes
Are conclusions are always present?
remember that conclusion aren’t always present.
> my client is innocent
Do conclusions have to come last in speech
conclusions don’t always come last in actual speech
What is an implicit conclusion
conclusions that aren’t explicitly stated at all
ex. your doctor says: Look, everyone who has high cholesterol is at risk of having a heart attack, and you have very high cholesterol…..
A Lawyer who explicitly concludes I believe that Gil committed the crime, but who offers for a related, but quite distinct, conclusion. is an example of?
- the conclusions that is explicit stated isn’t the one the speaker is arguing for
- the lawyers opinions are irrelevant
Techniques for identifying premises
- ignore non argumentative material (such as descriptive writing an rhetorical writing
- remember that any proposition, on any topic, expresses by any person at any time, can be a premise
- What are the reason or evidence being offered by the speaker/ author. These are likely the premises
What are premise indicators
- since
- because
- given that
- for the reason that
- on the basis of ….I conclude that
- my reasons are as follows
- my evidence
Are premise-indicators aren’t always present
NO
Do premises have to come first in actual texts?
premises don’t always come first in actual texts/ speeches, even though we put them first in standard form
