Unit 2 and 3 Flashcards
Unsupported assertions
are not arguments. Examples: reports, illustrations, explanations, and conditionals
Report
set of statements intended to provide info about a situation, topic, or event
Illustration
statement together with an explanatory or clarifying example
explanatory statement
provides a reason for the occurrence of some phenomenon
Conditional statements
taken by themselves, are not technically arguments
well-crafted arguments
arguments stated in such a way that their important logical features are explicit
Well-crafted versions
making a bad argument into a good one
Statements
sentences that are either true or false
Premise Indicators
words that indicate the premise is following.
Examples: because, since, for, as, after all, the reason is that, in light of the fact that, and based on the fact that
Conclusion indicators
Signal conclusions
Examples: so, therefore, consequently, etc.
Standard form
Put conditional premises or conclusions in form
If A then B
Discount
Acknowledgement of a fact or possibility that might be thought to render the argument invalid, weak, unsound, or uncogent
Rhetorical elements
elements that increases an arguments psychological persuaviness without affecting its validity, strength, soundness, or cogency
Assurance
a statement, word, or phrase that indicates that the author is confident of a premise or inference
Hedge
statement, word, or phrase that indicates that the arguer is tentative about a premise or inference
Examples: I think that, in my opinion, and perhaps
Subconclusion
Is supported by a premise, but it also supports at least one further statement
Proposition
a truth or a falsehood that may or may not be expressed in a sentence
Cognitive meaning
the extent that a sentence conveys info
Emotive force
the extent that a sentence expresses or elicits emotions
Vague
imprecise word
Extension
consists of the set of things to which the term applies
Intension
the properties a thing must have in order to be included in the terms extension
Ostensive Definition
Defining by pointing to
enumerative definition
names the members of the extension individually
lexical definition
reports the conventional or established intension of a term
Stipulative definition
specifies the intension of a term independently of convention or established use
Precising Definition
reduces the vagueness of a term by imposing limits on the conventional meaning
Definiendum
a word being defined
definiens
the word or word that do the defining
Merely Verbal Dispute
occurs when two or more disputants appear to disagree but an ambiguous word hides the fact that the disagreement is unreal
Persuasive definition
slanted in favor of a particular conclusion or point of view
