MACRO-Critical Thinking and Argument Analysis Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, definitions, claim types, and argument analysis concepts from notes based on The Pocket Guide to Critical Thinking.

Claim

A declarative sentence used in such a way that it is either true or false (but not both).

Subjective claim

A claim whose truth or falsehood depends on personal thought, belief, and feelings.

Objective claim

A claim whose truth or falsehood does not depend on personal thought, belief, and feelings.

Vague claim

A claim (sentence) where there are multiple ways to understand it, and whose truth or falsehood cannot be decided without clarification.

Definition

An explanation or stipulation of how to use a word or phrase; a proposition declaratory of the meaning of a word.

Economics (Robbins definition)

The science which studies human behaviour as a relationship between ends and scarce means which have alternative uses.

Opportunity cost

The value of the next best alternative given up in a choice.

Wealth (Mill definition)

All useful or agreeable things which possess exchangeable value; or all useful or agreeable things except those which can be obtained, in the quantity desired, without labour or sacrifice.

Capital (Mill definition)

Something produced, from its simplest to its most complicated state, for the purpose of being employed as the means towards a further production.

Conclusion Indicators

Words used in argument analysis to signal a conclusion, such as: Therefore, Thus, Hence, So, Then, Consequently, It follows that, Which implies that, Which entails that, As a result, and We may deduce that.

Premise Indicators

Words used in argument analysis to signal a premise, such as: For, Because, Assuming that, This is true because, Given that, As implied by the fact that, The reason is that, and The fact that.

Good argument

An argument in which the premises support the conclusion.