Arguing in Ethics and Moral Reasoning

non inferential passage

If there is no claim, inference, and relationship between one sentence or another-> it is a(n) ________.

Statement

A(n) ________ is a sentence that can either be true or false.

suricat

The ________ thrives on beetle larvae.

meerkat

The ________ is WITHIN the mongoose family, and the mongoose family is WITHIN the group of carnivores.

Formula

Premise + Claim = Conclusion

Examples

Warnings, pieces of advice, statements of belief or opinion, loosely associated statements, reports, expository passages, illustrations, explanations

If there is no claim, inference, and relationship between one sentence or another

> it is a non-inferential passage

Example

The meerkat is a member of the mongoose family

Example

The meerkat is closely related to the suricat

Argument

A group of statements, one or more of which (the premises) are claimed to provide support for, or reasons to believe, one of the others (the conclusion)

Types of Arguments

Deductive Argument and Inductive Argument

Deductive Argument

An argument incorporating the claim that it is IMPOSSIBLE for the conclusion to be false given that the premises are true

Inductive Argument

An argument incorporating the claim that it is IMPROBABLE that the conclusion be false given that the premises are true

Formula for an Argument

Premise + Claim = Conclusion

Simple non-inferential passages

Unproblematic passages that lack a claim that anything is being proven

Explanation

An established fact that does not need proving