Week 8

Question 1

Advice

Answer 1

A recommendation that focuses on the subjective requirements of the advisee.

Question 2

Maximising:

Answer 2

Seeking the best solution. This is the standard strategy for assessing Recommendations.

Question 3

Solution

Answer 3

A recommendation that addresses a specific underlying explanation of the problem.

Question 4

Sufficing

Answer 4

Seeking a sufficient or good-enough solution. This is a useful alternative strategy for assessing Recommendations.

Question 5

Recommendation

Answer 5

A non-deductive argument that evaluates a range of rival actions by how likely they are to address a key problem and meet the requirements. It has its own specific standard argument form.
Lead Question (Q): a well-framed question that seeks an action or resolution under some given circumstances.
Background (B): The background information against which the problem occurs.
Key Problem (K): The issue that is causing us to contemplate our choice of actions.
Explanatory Requirement (ER) The best explanation for the Key Problem given the Background - the conclusion of an IBE (solutions only).
Hard Requirements (HR): The absolutely essential, non-negotiate criteria that restrict the rival actions.
Soft Requirements (SR): The defeasible preferences that help to rank or sort the rival actions.
Rival Actions (A): Actions that that are possible answers to the lead Question.
Explanatory Premises (P, U): Facts that strengthen or weaken support for rival Actions.
Evaluation (E): Description of the support for each Action, either against an absolute standard, or relative to other actions, bearing in mind the Requirements and Key Problem.
Recommendation (C): The rival Action with the best support.