PHIL - Understanding Arguments Assesment

Logically Valid

In the best arguments, the truth of the premises guarantees the truth of the conclusion

Sound Arguments

When arguments have known correct premises, and are logically watertight

Moral Agents

Those who can’t control their behaviour through moral reasoning such as animals or young children

Moral Reasoning

A set of reasons and a conclusion the reasons support which form an argument

Counterargument

An argument that provides an objection to another argument or theory

Counterexample

A suggestion that something could be incorrect

Necessary Condition

Where something is required for a situation to be true but does not guarantee a result.

Sufficient Condition

Guarantees the truth of another condition, but is not necessary for that other condition to happen.

Indicator Word

Signposts that point out the parts of an argument identifying if it is a premise or a conclusion.

Conclusion

The main point the arguer is trying to convey

Premise

A claim that’s being offered as a reason to believe another claim

Indicator words for a conclusion

Therefore, so, hence, thus, as a result, consequently, etc

Indicator words for a premise

Since, if, because, for these reasons, from which it follows, etc

The Truth Condition

All premises must be plausible

Why does the truth condition get changed?

When asking “are all the premises true” what you’re really asking is whether the intended audience of the argument would be willing to grant those premises. Not denying existence of objective truth.

What is the original truth condition?

All premises must be true

Objective Truth

A fact about reality that is true for all people, regardless of what anyone thinks, feels, or believes.

The Logic Condition

The conclusion follows from the premises. The premises support the conclusion.

Valid Argument

If all the premises are true, the conclusion cannot be false. Impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion to be false

Argument analysis for validity

Validity is a logical property of whole arguments, not of individual claims

Strong Argument

If all premises are true, the conclusion follows with high probability. Possible for the conclusion to be false but it’s unlikely

Weak Argument

If all the premises are true, the conclusion follows neither with certainty nor with high probability. Premises don’t give us good enough reason to believe the conclusion is true

Deductive argument

An argument who’s premise’s are all true and is intended to be valid by the arguer. Require a fair amount of general information to lead a specific conclusion

Inductive Argument

An argument that doesn’t provide with certainty rather working in terms of probabilities. No guarantee that the conclusion is fully correct but what is known seems to support it (strong).

Entailment

One fact(premise) leading to another

Abduction

Drawing a conclusion based on the explanation that best explains a state of events rather than from evidence provided from the premises

Descriptive Claims

Claims about how things are

Normative Claims

Claims about how things should be