Chapter 1: Lecture Notes

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Chapter 1 Lecture Notes

• What Is an Argument?
• (and What is Not?)

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• An argument is
• a set of claims in which one or more of them
  the premises are put forward so as to offer
  reasons for another claim, the conclusion. (1)
• Notice that arguments in this sense are not
  fights or disagreements. Arguments in the sense
  defined are about providing justification for
  some belief or other.

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• The general framework for an argument is
• Premise 1
• Premise 2
• Premise N (indicates any number of premises)
• Therefore,
• Conclusion
• This form helps make the logical structure of the
  argument clear.

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• We have to be careful to separate argument from
  opinions.
• Opinions are beliefs that are usually held with a
  low degree of confidence. (3)
• The point of arguments and argument evaluation is
  to have increase the confidence in our opinions
  so that we have the opinions we do with
  justification.
• This is important because what we think affects
  what we do and how we behave. (4)

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• Arguments and Indicator Words
• Indicator words act as clues as to whether a
  statement is a premise or conclusion of an
  argument. Looking for these indicator words will
  aid in capturing the logical structure of
  arguments.
• A Few Common Premise Indicators words/phrases
• since because
• for as indicated by
• for the reason that follows from
• given that on the grounds that
• from the reason that as shown by
• given that may be deduced from

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• A Few Common Premise Indicators words/phrases
• therefore thus
• so consequently
• hence then
• it follows that it can be inferred that
• in conclusion accordingly
• proves that shows that
• indicates that demonstrates that
• There are many indicator words and they are a
  useful guide the the logical structure of
  argument, but there are some potential problems.

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• Not all indicator words always indicate something
  is a premise or a conclusion. For example, the
  classic indicator words dont indicate premises
  and conclusion in the following
• Since 1998, I have loved coffee ice-cream.
• Chuck bought a beer for Al.
• He gained 10 pounds because he stopped running.
• All of these function in ways other than as
  indicator words.

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• Because indicator words dont always indicate
  something is a premise or conclusion, in order to
  identify arguments one needs to develop their
  senses of
• Context
• Tone
• Logical structure

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• Here are some common questions to ask oneself
  while trying to identify arguments in passages of
  text.
• What would be its conclusion if it were to
  contain an argument?
• What is the speaker or writer claiming?
• What is his or her fundamental point?
• Is some claim actually, or potentially, being
  disputed?
• Are questions of justification being considered?

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• Why are arguments important?
• Unlike jokes, stories, exclamations, questions,
  and explanations, arguments are an attempt to
• JUSTIFY
• Justification is what separates arguments from
  these other activities. And understanding and
  evaluation arguments is inseparable from critical
  thinking. (7/8)

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• What isnt an argument?
• Sometimes it is important to know what something
  isnt in order to understand what it is. Here
  are a few examples of things that are not
  arguments.
• Two plus two is four.
• I love coffee!
• Why do I love coffee?
• If it rains, I will have another cup of coffee.
• None of the sentences are arguments.

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• The first is just a statement of mathematical
  fact. The second is just a claim about my love
  of coffee. Questions are never arguments. And
  finally, we have a conditional statement.
• If it rains, then I will have another cup of
  coffee.
• This sentence is often confused with argument
  because it has then in it which looks like a
  conclusion indicator. But this sentence cannot
  be broken up.

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• Conditional sentences are referred to as if/then
  sentences and cannot be broken into two part.
  They are one entire sentence.
• A conditional sentence is one that links several
  conditions, specifying that IF one condition
  holds, anther will as well. (10)
• Conditionals are often found in arguments, but
  the NEVER express an argument. (10)

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• For us, we will break text into two categories
  arguments and nonarguments
• Examples of nonarguments are
• Stories, jokes, descriptions, explanations,
  questions, and exclamations.

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• Explanation vs. Argument
• Arguments and explanations have similar structure
  and use some of the same indicator words like
  thus, therefore, so and because.
• But there is an important difference the two.

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• Arguments attempt to justify a claim or
  demonstrate why something is true.
• Explanation attempt to explain or show why
  something is true and attempt to increase
  understanding.
• There are three general kinds of explanations
• Causal explanations
• Explanations by purpose
• Explanations by meaning

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• Terms to review
• Argument
• Conclusion
• Conditional Statement
• Explanation
• Indicator words
• Nonargument
• Opinion
• Premise