The Nature and Methods of Philosophy

U1 AOS 1

Valid

Logical and all premises result in the conclusion. All premises and conclusion are related to eachother so if the premises were true, then the conclusion would have been true as well.

Fallacious

Flawed

Premises

Exploration of argument. Statements/ evidence that come to a conclusion

Inductive

Observations that allow us to decide what seems most likely. A prediction that doesn’t guarantee certainty

Deductive

Arguments result in certainty if premises are true

Sound

Perfect argument- Premises are true and their link to the conclusion is valid.

Assertions

Answers. They indicate wether an argument is valid or fallacious, there are many techniques that form the branch known as logic.

Logic and reason

Methodical, reputable, and objective

Logic

The process of rereading a conclusion based as premises.

Structure for an argument

P1

P2

P3

Conclusion

Entaillement

All facts lead to another. Premises ‘entail’ the conclusion.

Necessary conditions

Sufficient conclusions

Words that indicate an INDUCTIVE argument

Low modality; Probably, maybe, and most.

Interrlocuter

Participants involved with the conversation, debate, or dialogue. They usually ask the questions. If the responder responds with a question, they are an interrlocuter. They can accept or offer a counter argument.

Socratic Dialogue

Made by socrates. Aims to guide individuals toward independent conclusions or recognise their own ignorance. 

Limits of deductive reasoning

It requires us to be certain.

Limits on inductive reasoning

Reasoning isn’t correct, and the future doesn’t always resemble the past.

Logic

The process of reaching a CONCLUSION based upon statements known as PREMISES. 

Deductive reasoning example

P1) All men are mortal

P2) Socrates is a man

C: Therefore Socrates is mortal

Example of a NOT sound argument

P1) Iago is jealous of Othello

P2) Othello is easily manipulated

C: Therefore Othello Desdemona dies

Premises and conclusion are all true but the premises don’t necessarily result in the conclusion so it’s not valid or sound.

Why is it important to be rational?

How is logic and reason beneficial?

What are the aspects of the Tripartite Soul?  Which are we hoping to mainly engage in when dealing with argument?

Head (logic and thinking) heart (emotions and feelings) and a (sex drive, need for food, etc)

Virtue

Acquired through habitual actions, not innate. It’s found in the Golden Mean. It leads to pleasure and well-being. The product of habituation guided by reason.

Argument to the Best Explanation

A way of reasoning where we infer that the best possible explanation for a set of facts to be true.

Deduction of different possibilities.

Example of Argument to the Best Explanation

1) Someone spilled water

2) The sink is leaking

3) A window was left open, and rain came in. Outside it hasn’t rained. The sink is dripping. Best possible explanation= The sink is leaking.

Nicomachean Ethics

Virtue isn’t an inherent quality, it’s rather acquired through repeated habitual events.

The Golden Mean

A scale between Excess and Virtue.

Reductio Ad Absurdum

Form of argumentation where a claims disproven by demonstrating that it’s logical conlusion leads to an absurd or contradictory result.

Trabscendental Arguments

Type of philosophical reasoning that seeks to establish the necessary conditions for the possibilities of certain concepts or experiences.

Analogies

Tools that draw parallels between conceptual and more tangible situations, emphasising similarities to aid in understanding or illustrating a point. E.g. Plato’s Cave

Thought Experiment

Hypothetical scenarios or imaginary situations created for the purpose of explaining philosophical or scientific ideas. Test without doing an experiment. E.g. Famous Violinist.