Section 1 Flashcards
What is critical thinking?
The ability to criticize your own reasoning
What is a proposition?
A statement that can be true or false/can be argued. Eg. Tony’s has the best pizza.
What is a non proposition?
A statement that cannot be right or wrong. Cannot be argued. Eg. Today I took a walk.
Simple Proposition
Statement that is simply true or false on its own. Eg. The sky is blue.
Complex proposition
Have internal logical structure and are made up of Simple propositions. Eg. The sky is blue, but it does not look blue to me today,
Define premise
Statements that support the conclusion of an argument
Define conclusion in regards to arguments
The claim that the whole argument is intended to support
What 2 ways can an argument go bad?
- Bad structure 2. False premise
Good vs bad argument
Good argument has premise that supports the conclusion. Bad argument premise does not support the conclusion.
Inductive argument
Provide probable support. Premise does not guarantee conclusion, but is probable. Premise gives you a good reason to believe the conclusion. Good ones are both strong and cogent.
Deductive argument
Conclusion is guaranteed, not probable. Premise supports the fact that is the conclusion. Good ones are both valid and sound.
Abduction / abductive argument
Arguments where the best explanation is chosen as the correct one.
Invalid argument
One where premise is meant to guarantee truth of conclusion and fails to do so
Valid argument
One where premise is meant to guarantee conclusion and does so.
Truth
The way the world is, realness
Cogent argument =
All true premise and strong inductive support
Define induction
Using past experience to make future predictions. Eg. Tylenol has worked for me many times before, it will probably work today.
Define abduction
Drawing a conclusion based on the explanation that best explains the state of events, rather than from evidence from the premise.
Eg. You and your roommate ate sushi. You were both then sick. The reason you are both sick is most likely to be the sushi.
Validity
Truth of the premise makes the conclusion necessarily true. Untrue premise makes it not valid.
Strength
Strength of premise makes conclusion probably true.
Cogency
Used only for inductive arguments, strong and all premises are true. Argument is uncogent of it is either weak or has one or more untrue premise. (Similar to soundness)
Soundness regards..
Truth And structure
Define fallacy
Flawed argument, bad reasoning
Formal fallacies have to do with…
Structure/order
What is affirming the consequent?
If x, then y. y. Therefore, x. This is a bad argument structure since it is not always necessarily true.
What is denying the antecedent?
If x, then y.
Not x.
Therefore, not y.
Invalid structure.
Modus Ponens / affirming the consequent
If x, then y.
X.
Therefore, Y.
Valid form. Not always truthful.
Modus Tollens / denying the antecedent
If X, then Y.
Not Y.
Therefore, not X.
What is a red herring?
Changing the subject of the argument to something irrelevant to attempt to strengthen yours.
What is begging the question?
When one assumes the truth of the conclusion in one or more of the premises.
Eg. Capital punishment is permissible. Therefore, capital punishment is permissible.
Uses the conclusion as support for the conclusion. Valid, but not a good argument, as a good argument provides support as to why you should believe it.
What is the straw figure fallacy?
Weakest version of the argument is attacked while the strongest is ignored.
inductive argument has to do with
cogency and strong inductive support
deductive argument has to do with
valid and soundness
