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
