Review for Chapter 5

Question 1

What is the assessment strategy used when you identify all the specifically fallacies (or mistakes) that an argument can make, and then ask whether a given argument commits any of these fallacies

Answer 1

This is the Fallacies Approach

Question 2

What is the assessment strategy used when you appeal to the criteria or standards that a good argument must satisfy and ask whether a given argument meets these criteria.

Answer 2

This is called the Critical Approach

Question 3

Define Fallacy as defined by the book:

Answer 3

Any error or weakness that detracts from the soundness of an argument yet somehow manages to disguise itself so as to give the argument the appearance of being better than it really is.

Question 4

What is the general definition of Criteria?

Answer 4

a principle or standard by which something may be judged or decided.

A standard of assesment

Question 5

What are the three Criteria of a sound argument?

Answer 5

1) Acceptability
2) Relevance
3) Adequacy

Question 6

What are the seven rules for assessing arguments?

Answer 6

1) Identify the Main Conclusions
2) Identify the Premises
3) Identify the structure of the argument
4) Check the acceptability of the premises
5) Check the Relevance of the premises
6) Check the Adequacy of the premises
7) Look for counter arguments

Question 7

Define acceptability

Answer 7

capable or worthy of being accepted.

Question 8

Define Relevance

Answer 8

Relevance is simply the noun form of the adjective “relevant,” which means “important to the matter at hand.” Artists and politicians are always worried about their relevance. If they are no longer relevant, they may not keep their job.

Question 9

Define Adequacy

Answer 9

the state or quality of being adequate; sufficiency for a particular purpose.