W2 L4 - How to evaluate arguments Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is the method of dialect?
arriving at a conclusion through the exchange of logical arguments
what are the two types of reasons?
prudential and evidential
what is prudential/practical/pragmatic reasons?
Reasons for behaving a certain way because it is beneficial
What is evidential reasons
reasons for believeing that something is true
What is an arguement
a set of assertive sentences where at least one is designated as a conclusion and the others are premise to support the conclusion
what are three kinds of arguments?
abduction, induction, and deduction
what makes an abductive argument good?
its conclusion is the best explanation for the available data in the sense that it makes that data the least SURPRISING
What is the surprise principle?
H is the best explanation for data D iff of all competeting hypotheses, H1, H2.. HN, hypothesis H makes D seem the least surprising
What is the problem with adbuctive arguments?
It is subjective as to what is surprising, it is hard to get objective knowledge
what is makes an inductive argument good?
iff (a) all of its premises are true
(b) it is inductively strong
what is inductive strength?
it refers to the relationship between the premises and the conclusion
what is a deduction argument?
IFF conclusion is supposed to be necessitated under the assumption that all of its premises are true
what is inductive argument?
IFF conclusion is supposed to be made very likely/probable under the assumption that all of its premises are true
define validity
there is no logically possible/imaginable circumstance in which the premises are true and the conclusion is false
what is soundness?
IFF all of its premises are true and it is VALID
