Critical Thinking Midterm

what is an argument

a communication device or process to defend or attack truths, actions we should take or have taken, the existence of beings or laws, and so on

what is a proposition

a statement that we propose to others

what are logical operators

the “is”, “if…then”, “or”, “and”, “is not”

what is the form of an argument

refers to its logical structure

what is the content of an argument

refers to what it is about or its substance

what is a valid argument

an argument with a logical structure that has no errors

what is a sound argument

one that is valid and also has true premises

what is a formal fallacy

refers to errors made of the logical structure (form) of an argument

what is an informal fallacy

refers to errors in the substance (content) of an argument

reductio ad absurdum (reduction to absurdity)

we argue that our claim is right by showing that the opposite claim, if considered true, leads to a contradiction, absurdity, or ridiculous conclusion

anybody can practice scientific investigation or inquiry as long as they:

1) have receptivity for data

2) reasoning skills

3) the yearning for truth

reasoning skills

abilities that amount to holding several opposing beliefs at once and to judge which one or some are better; consider objections or doubt regarding beliefs and judge them according to these

receptivity from data

you must be observational, experimental

correspondence theory

a belief that is considered true and justified if we correctly relate it to what it is about- ex. “the snow is white"

coherence theory

a belief is considered true and justified if it is coherent with the rest of the scientific body of belief

the enemies of science or rationality

superstition, unjustified/unfounded doubt, money or fame, political gain or ideological corruption, pseudo-sciences off as real sciences

definition of belief

a belief is a disposition that, in part, recognized how things appear to be

disbelief

believing that the opposite of something is true

non-belief

suspending judgement whether X is true or false (absence of opinion)