Week 9: Reconstructing Arguments

Question 1

Steps of argument reconstruction

Answer 1

1. Identify the conclusion - is it implicit or explicit
2. Identify the premises - are they implicit or explicit
3. Apply the principles of charity and faithfulness to reconstruct your argument

Question 2

How to identify the conclusion

Answer 2

Ask yourself, what is the point of the text? What does the author want me to believe?

Question 3

How to identify premises

Answer 3

Ask yourself: What are the reasons or evidence offered for the author’s conclusion?

Question 4

Universal Modus Ponens

Answer 4

1. All As are Bs
2. X is an A
3. Therefore, X is a B

Question 5

Implicit Premises

Answer 5

when the author has assumptions or premises they haven’t bothered to state. Here, apply the principles of charity and faithfulness to reconstruct the argument

Question 6

Specific implicit premises

Answer 6

State facts about specific individuals or things

Question 7

General implicit premises

Answer 7

State facts about general categories or kinds

Question 8

Two rules of thumb for general implicit premises:

Answer 8

1. True is better than false
2. Wide is better than narrow

Question 9

step 3: Applying principles of charity and faithfulness

Answer 9

Ask yourself:
1. Is the argument as strong as possible (principle of charity)
2. Is the argument consistent with the author’s intentions? (principle of faithfulness)
3. If the anser to either is no, go back to step 1 and 2 in identifying the argument

Question 10

Cheap Validity

Answer 10

It is always possible to make an argument valid by adding the premise “If the premsies are true, then the conclusion is true”.