Logic and Argumentation vocab

Question 1

Logic

Answer 1

study of arguments

Question 2

Metaphysics

Answer 2

Study of reality, study of what is.

Question 3

Epistemology

Answer 3

Study of how we know what we know. Knowledge and belief and the nature of truth.

Question 4

Ethics or Morality

Answer 4

Study of the concepts of right and wrong, good and evil, virtue and vice. Are there real differences between these things?

Question 5

Political philosophy

Answer 5

Focuses on politics, broadly conceived.

ex. what type of government should we have?

Question 6

Philosophy of Science

Answer 6

Explores questions that arise in science.

ex. how reliable is science?

Question 7

Aesthetics

Answer 7

Study of art and beauty.

Question 8

History of philosphy

Answer 8

Study of the contribution of individual philosophers to the discipline of philosophy.

Question 9

What is an argument?

Answer 9

A set of statements consisting of one or more premises and a conclusion.

Question 10

Validity

Answer 10

A valid argument must have a true conclusion if all the premises are true

Question 11

Deductive argument

Answer 11

intended to meet criteria of validity

Question 12

Conclusive reasons

Answer 12

reasons that guarantee truth

Question 13

Cogent - clear, logical, convincing

Answer 13

1. Valid or inductively strong
2. Evidence we have makes it highly probable that all its premises are true
3. All available relevant information has been taken into account

Question 14

Difference between inductively strong and valid?

Answer 14

The conclusion is valid if it is guaranteed to be true if the premises are true. Inductively strong arguments are probably true if the premises are true.

Question 15

Best Explained Argument

Answer 15

Form of inductive argument. If some hypothesis is the best explanation for some fact or argument, we think the hypothesis is true.

Question 16

Simplicity

Answer 16

People usually go for the more simpler explanation because it’s easier to explain and is more plausible.

Question 17

What is the difference between a fact and a theory?

Answer 17

Theory is a statement or set of statements intended to explain something. Facts are true statements.