Argument Basics

Question 1

Proposition

Answer 1

• an expressed thought or idea that is ‘truth-conditional’

- unlike questions or directives=> can claim whether prop is true/ false

Question 2

Statement

Answer 2

• a proposition that is asserted & expressed through declarative sentence
• always made or advanced by a speaker who commits herself to the truth of that statement

• statement = proposition + assertion

Question 3

Argument

Answer 3

• a group of two or more statements, one of which - the conclusion - is advanced by the speaker or writer on the strength of the others, which are known as premises

Question 4

Premise

Answer 4

• statements given as reasons for believing the conclusion

a) assumed or taken for granted in an argument
b) intended as support for another statement

Question 5

Conclusion

Answer 5

• the statement that is advanced or defended in the argument and that the premises are intended to support

a) not taken for granted in an argument
b) what the author wants to convince the reader of
c) intended to be supported by another statement

Question 6

Compound argument

Answer 6

Arguments including ‘intermediate conclusions’

Question 7

Intermediate conclusion

Answer 7

• Supported by premises, and is a conclusion, but is also a premise in the overall argument
• most extended pieces of reasoning involve compound arguments

Question 8

Conditional statement

Answer 8

• links two or more propositions

- links propositions through “if…then” operator

Question 9

Explanations

Answer 9

Consist of two sorts of prepositions

• explanandum
• explanans
• both explanandum and explanans are assumed rather than argued for
• not intended to support the truth of its constituent propositions but to establish an explanatory, generally causal, relation between those propositions

Question 10

Explanandum

Answer 10

A proposition describing the event or state of affairs being explained

Question 11

Explanans

Answer 11

One or more propositions describing the causal or other factors thought to explain it

Question 12

The principle of charity

Answer 12

1. Arguments not entirely clear or unambiguous
2. ‘Principle of charity’ should be used (especially when you disagree with the conclusion)
3. You should interpret the argument as being as good as it can be whilst still being consistent with the author’s formulation of an argument

Question 13

Standard form

Answer 13

• helps clarify the logical structure of the argument
• argument expressed in standard form by:
1) numbering the argument’s premise
2) drawing a horizontal line and placing the conclusion of the argument after the premises
3) placing a ‘therefore sign’ before the conclusion