Lecture 8

Question 1

OVERVIEW What are the steps of argument reconstruction

Answer 1

step 1: identify the conclusion
- can be explicit or implicit

step 2: identify the premises
- can be explicit or implicit

step 3: apply the principles of charity and faithfulness to your reconstructed argument

Question 2

True or false: When reconstructing an argument you should identify the conclusion first

Answer 2

true

Question 3

True or false: Both premise and conclusions can be implicit

Answer 3

true

Question 4

what are the steps of identifying conclusions

Answer 4

• what is the overal point of the text/speech? what does the author want me to believe?
• try to ignore non- arugmentative material

Question 5

what is implicit conclusion?

Answer 5

sometimes conclusion arent explicitly stated at all

Question 6

What are the conclusion indicators

Answer 6

Thus
Therefore
Hence
Entails
implies
it follows that
we may conclude
this proves that
so

Question 7

what are the steps of identifying premises

Answer 7

• what are the reasons or evidence offered for the author’s conclusion?
• Try to ignore non-argumentative material

Question 8

what are the premise indicators

Answer 8

Since
Because
given that
for the reason that
my reasons are as follows

Question 9

what is the new arugment form

Answer 9

universal modus ponens

all As and Bs
x is an A
Therefore, X is a B

Example:
1. every SSH 105 student is awesome
2. Sarah is an SSH 105 student
3. Therefore, Sarah is awesome

Question 10

what are the other reasons of implicit premises

Answer 10

in many cases of argument analysis, the author has assumptions or premises they haven’t bothered to state

Question 11

what are the few tips of implicit premises for the 3rd step

Answer 11

follow the principle of charity
- Add implicit premises to ensure the argument is valid
- add implicit premises that are reasonable to accept

follow the principle of faithfulness
- add implicit premises that are consistent with the authors intention

Question 12

what is specific implicit premises

Answer 12

they are to state the facts about specific individuals or things

example: :” I know i passed the class becaue everyone who did well on the exam passes.”

1. everyone who did well on the exam passed the class
2. i did well on the exam
3. therefore i passed the class

Question 13

What is general implicit premises

Answer 13

state facts about general categories or kinds

EXAMPLE: That movie was directed by Frank Coraci, it won’t be funny

1. This movie was directed by Frank coraci
2. All movies directed by Frank Coraci aren’t funny
3. this movie won’t be funny

Question 14

what are the two rules of thumb adding a general implicit premise in an argument

Answer 14

first: true is better than false
second: wide is better than narrow

Question 15

what is step 3 of the principles of charity and faithfullness

Answer 15

1. is this argument as strong as possible
2. is this argument consistent with the authors intention

Question 16

what is cheap vaildy

Answer 16

it is always possible to add a premise to make an argument vaild

EXAMPLE: it will rain tomorrow. My magic 8ball said so
1. my magic 8 ball said it will rain tomorrow
2. Therefore, it will rain tomorrow

THAT IS INVALID bc the 2 premise is false

to make a valid
1. My Magic 8 ball said it will rain tomorrow.
2. If my Magic 8 ball said it will rain
tomorrow, then it would rain tomorrow.
3. Therefore, it will rain tomorrow.

Question 17

true or false: it is better to add a true and narrow premise than a false and wide presmise

Answer 17

true