Lecture Notes on Arguments, Weston Rulebook, and Plato's Republic (Intro & Book II)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the notes on arguments, philosophical reasoning, and Plato's Republic.

Epistemology

The study of knowledge; examines how we justify beliefs and why we think they are true.

Constitutional democracy

A regime managed by constitutional rules with elected representatives to handle conflict and govern.

Premises

Statements that provide reasons or evidence supporting a conclusion.

Conclusion

The claim or thesis that an argument aims to prove.

Argument

A set of premises intended to support a conclusion.

Inductive reasoning

Reasoning from specific cases to a probable generalization; conclusions are probable, not certain.

Deductive reasoning

Reasoning where if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true.

Valid

A deductive form where true premises guarantee a true conclusion.

Sound

A valid argument with true premises.

Modus Ponens

If p implies q, and p is true, then q is true.

Modus Tollens

If p implies q, and q is false, then p is false.

Hypothetical Syllogism

If p then q; if q then r; therefore if p then r.

Disjunctive Syllogism

P or Q; not P; therefore Q (inclusive or exclusive depends on context).

Dilemma

A choice between two options, each with undesirable consequences.

Reductio ad absurdum

Assume the opposite and show it leads to contradiction; conclude the original claim.

Equivocation

Using a key term in more than one sense or making terms vague to mislead.

Ad hominem

Attacking the person rather than the argument.

Ad populum

Appealing to the emotions or beliefs of a crowd rather than reasoning.

Ad ignorantiam

Claim is true because it hasn’t been proven false.

Begging the question

Assuming the conclusion within the premises (circular reasoning).

Circular argument

Another term for begging the question; reasoning that circles back to the premise.

False cause

Concluding a causal link from correlation alone.

Correlation does not imply causation

Correlation may be coincidental or due to a common cause; not proof of causation.

Cross-check

Verify claims with independent, credible sources to ensure accuracy.

Authority (argument from authority)

Relying on an expert or source; requires credible, qualified, and impartial backing.

Informed sources

Sources with appropriate background knowledge and proper attribution.

Impartial sources

Unbiased sources; consider funding, affiliations, and potential biases.

Sampling

Choosing a representative subset of a population to support generalizations.

Counterexample

An example that disproves a generalization or challenge a claim.

Background information

Context needed to assess evidence and examples effectively.

Analogy (argument by analogy)

Reasoning that compares two things; similarities support a claim but aren’t decisive alone.

Ring of Gyges

Plato’s tale about invisibility used to question justice and morality when unobserved.

Three parts of the soul

Reason, Spirit (will), and Appetite; justice arises when reason rules.

Myths of metals

Plato’s idea that people are born into social roles (gold, silver, bronze) for just order.

Guardians, Auxiliaries, Producers

Plato’s three city classes: Guardians (wisdom), Auxiliaries (courage), Producers (moderation).

Justice as harmony

Justice is the proper order of the soul or city, achieved when part(s) function under reason.

Philosopher king

Ruler who loves truth and justice; ideal ruler in Plato’s Republic.

Healthy city vs feverish city

A just city balances basic needs (health) against luxury/desire (feverish) to avoid conflict.

Perry’s scheme

A model of intellectual development with stages like dualism, multiplicity, and commitment.

Contextual relativism

Truth or justification depends on the context in which it occurs.

Commitment (to a perspective)

Being convinced by one view while remaining open to others, choosing the best-supported view.

Background knowledge

Pre-existing information that helps evaluate new evidence or examples.

Arguments by analogy

Reasoning that uses similarities between cases to argue for a conclusion, but requires careful evaluation of relevance.

Socratic dialogue

A method of questioning and discussion used by Socrates and Plato to explore ideas.

Sample vs population

Using a representative subset (sample) to infer about a larger group (population).