Conclusions, Reasons, and Enthymemes

1
Conclusions, Reasons, and Enthymemes

• Chapter 6 in The Shape of Reason

2
What, according to Gage, does it mean to reason
and offer a line of reasoning?

• Reasoning is a process of creating relationships
  between ideas in such a way that belief in one is
  intended to follow as a consequence of belief in
  another (79).
• Idea 1The rainfall in Fort Bragg regularly
  exceeds 35 inches per year.
• Idea 2Fort Bragg is not a good place to live.
• Example Fort Bragg is not a good place to live
  because it rains, on average, more than 35 inches
  per year.
• Example The rainfall in Fort Bragg regularly
  exceeds 35 inches per year therefore, it is not
  a good place to live.

3
Enthymemes and Audience Values

• How does an enthymeme assume audience values?
• Enthymemes, therefore, can be said to derive
  from beliefs that the particular audience is
  assumed to have accepted as given (83).
• As long as this unstated assumption is a matter
  of agreement, the reason seems like a reason. As
  soon as the assumption is denied, or if it is not
  shared at the outset, then the reason seems like
  no reason at all (83).

4
Reasoning is the glue that holds ideas together
(82).

• Idea 1 Students at CRMC receive more one-on-one
  attention from their instructors than do students
  at typical community colleges.
• Idea 2 CRMC is a smaller college than the
  typical community college.
• Combine with because and therefore.
• CRMC students receive more one-on-one attention
  from their instructors than do students at
  typical community colleges because CRMC is a
  smaller than most colleges.
• CRMC is a smaller college than the typical
  community college therefore, CRMC students
  receive more one-on-one attention from their
  instructors than do students at typical colleges.

5

• Idea 1 Laws that violate basic human rights are
  immoral.
• Idea 2 Citizens should break laws that promote
  racial discrimination.
• therefore.
• Laws that violate basic human rights are immoral
  therefore, citizens should break laws that
  promote racial discrimination.
• because.
• Citizens should break laws that promote racial
  discrimination because laws that violate basic
  human rights are immoral.
• Whats the assumption?

6

• Idea 1 Doctors possess unique professional
  expertise that allows them, but not lay people or
  legislators, to determine what medications and
  treatments will best reduce the suffering of
  their terminally ill patients.
• Idea 2 Marijuana should be a legally available
  medication/treatment for doctors to prescribe to
  reduce the suffering of their terminally ill
  patients.
• because
• Marijuana should be a legally available
  prescription because doctors, more than
  legislators and lay people, know best what
  treatments and medications will reduce the
  suffering of their terminally ill patients.
• therefore
• Doctors possess unique professional expertise
  that allows them, but not lay people or
  legislators, to determine what medications and
  treatments will best reduce the suffering of
  their terminally ill patients therefore,
  marijuana should be a legally available
  medication/treatment
• Whats the assumption?

7

• "The phrase "under God" should not be stricken
  from the Pledge of Allegiance because most
  Americans describe themselves as Christian." 
• Identify the conclusion and the reason in this
  enthymeme.
• What is the assumption of the enthymeme?
• An academic, professional audience is likely to
  reject the assumption of enthymeme.  Why?
• What happens to the enthymeme when the audience
  rejects the underlying assumption?
• What would the writer have to do to convince an
  academic, professional audience that enthymeme is
  worth accepting?  

8

• The needs of humans are more important than the
  needs of animals therefore, a logging company
  should be able to clear-cut its forests as long
  as doing so wont harm humans.
• Identify the conclusion and the reason in this
  enthymeme.
• What is the assumption of the enthymeme?
• An academic, professional audience is likely to
  reject the assumption of enthymeme.  Why?
• What happens to the enthymeme when the audience
  rejects the underlying assumption?
• What would the writer have to do to convince an
  academic, professional audience that enthymeme is
  worth accepting?  

9
How is the use of symbols in argument different
from the use of symbols in mathematics?

• Numbers have fixed and certain meanings. 224
• Words have ambiguity.
• The second amendment grants the right to
  citizens to possess arms therefore, citizens
  have the right to own handguns.
• Abortion is murder because it kills a human
  being.