Unit 3 (Argument Identification & Reconstruction) Flashcards
Recap: What is the goal of argument analysis?
To find the truth
What is the Principle of Charity?
- Making the argument as strong as possible
- Being charitable
What does Principle of Charity help us see?
It helps us see if the argument provides good reason to believe the conclusion which helps us get to the truth.
What is argument identification?
Finding out if there is an argument being made.
Steps of argument identification.
- Look for the authors conclusion
- Ask yourself does the author have premises. (if yes then there is an argument and if no then there is no argument
What writing are not arguments and explain them?
- Descriptive writing (describe person, objective, or event)
- Rhetorical writing (authors opinion and no reasons provided)
What writing is argument but weak?
Argumentative writing
What are we doing in reconstruction of arguments?
Putting them into standard form
Steps of argument reconstruction.
- Identify the conclusion
- Identify the premises
- Apply the Principle of Charity and Faithfulness
What can be explicit or implicit in argument reconstruction?
conclusion and premises
explicit
the conclusion and premise are stated
implicit
the conclusion and premise are not explicitly stated
When doing step one of reconstruction (identifying conclusion), what are some conclusion indicators?
- thus
- therefore
- hence
- implies
- so
- entails
- consequently
There are many more than these
Principle of Faithfulness
adding premises or conclusions that are consistent with the authors intentions
Tips to identifying implicit premises.
- Follow the Principle of Charity
- Follow the Principle of Faithfulness
- there is no one perfect reconstruction
What are the two types of implicit premises?
- Specific Implicit Premises
- General Implicit Premises
Specific Implicit Premises
states facts about specific things
General Implicit Premises
state facts about general categories
When adding General Implicit premises what is better…
- wide is better than narrow and true is better than false
Once we are done step 1 and 2 of Reconstruction (Identifying the conclusion and premises) we come to The Principles. What do we do here.
We apply the principles and if the argument is strong and consistent then EVALUATE, but if its not strong and consistent then go back over steps 1 and 2
Cheap Validity
- It is always possible to add a premise to make the argument valid
- You can make an argument valid by adding a linking premises
