Chapter 1 Flashcards
What is an Argument? (And What Is Not)
Q: What is an argument?
A: A set of claims put forward as offering support for a further claim. An argument is composed of the supporting claims and supported claim. A person offers an argument when he or she tries to justify a claim by offering reasons for it. E. G There are no international police (1). It takes police to thoroughly enforce the law (2). Therefore, International law cannot be thoroughly enforced (3). 1 and 2 are support statements, 3 is the conclusion.
Q: What is a conclusion?
A: In an argument, the claim for which premises are intended as support. It is this claim that the arguer tries to make credible.
Q: What is a premise?
A: A supporting reason in an argument. It is put forward as being acceptable and providing rational support for a further claim
Q: when does an argument occur?
A: arguments are found where there are some controversy or disagreement about a subject and people try to resolve that disagreement rationally
Q: Is an argument a fight or dispute?
A: In the context of this book NO.
Q: What is an opinion?
A: A belief typically about a matter to dispute, where there is not full proof, and others have different ideas. Often people are aware that their opinions are fully backed up by evidence and hold less firmly to them than to other beliefs for which there is more conclusive evidence, less disagreement, or both
Q: Are all opinions equal?
A: Some opinions are only mere opinions, whereas other opinions are based on evidence and reasoning, and good judgement.
Q: What are indicator words?
A: Words such as for, since, thus, therefore, and because, typically used in arguments to indicate that a person is reasoning from premises to a conclusion. However, these words may also occur in explanation and elsewhere. They do not appear only in arguments.
Q: what are some examples of indicator words?
A: As indicated by, Follows from, May be derived from, On the grounds that, As shown by, Given that, May be deduced from
Q: what are some examples of conclusion indicators?
A: Therefore, Thus, So, Consequently, Hence, Accordingly, Proves that
Q: Where and how do you find arguments?
A: Indicator words can often help you find arguments, but one problem is that not all arguments contain indicator words. One frequent clue to the presence of an argument is an indication that a claim put forward has been disputed and is thus in need of support.
Q: Why are arguments important?
A: Arguing and evaluating arguments are indispensable elements of critical thinking- of carefully examining our beliefs and opinions and the evidence we have for them.
Q: What is a nonargument?
A: A passage or speech that does not contain an argument
Q: What is a conditional statement?
A: In a conditional statement, a connection is asserted between a condition and something said to be dependent on it. An example of a conditional statement is “If it snows, we will shovel the side walk.” Note that this statement does not assert that it is snowing but only that if it snows, shoveling will be done. A conditional statement, by itself, does not constitute an argument, although conditional statements are often used in arguments.
Q: What is an explanation?
A: An account showing, or attempting to show, how it came to be that a fact or an event is the way it is. Frequently, explanations are given by specifying the causes of an event. An explanation is one kind of nonargument.
