PHIL 1200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Sport Utility Vehicle, Ad Hominem
20 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Ethotic Schemes
argument that appeal to perceived character/ credibility
When we don't have time/resources/ knowledge to investigate ourselves
Pro Homine
Argument where we are asked to accept a conclusion on the basis of the fact that some credible person
says so.
Scheme:
P1: X says y.
P2: X is knowledgeable, trustworthy, and free of bias.
C: y should be accepted.
P2 often unstated
Ad Popular
appeal to popularity/public opinion
variant of Pro Homine argument: credibility of the masses
Advertising!
-e.g,: “ best- selling mid-size SUV in its class in 2017!”
Ad populum— usually not very good..
public opinion not a very reliable guide to the truth
Bestsellers: often not the best; just good enough for the price.
Two contexts when ad popular arguments can be good
Argument for a broad popular audience
e.g.: argument against capital punishment
Audience: Southern US public
Ok to use as a premise: “ The christian thing to do is to forgive sinners”
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Ethotic schemes argument that appeal to perceived character/ credibility. When we don"t have time/resources/ knowledge to investigate ourselves. Argument where we are asked to accept a conclusion on the basis of the fact that some credible person says so. P2: x is knowledgeable, trustworthy, and free of bias. Ad popular appeal to popularity/public opinion variant of pro homine argument: credibility of the masses. E. g,: best- selling mid-size suv in its class in 2017! . Ad populum usually not very good public opinion not a very reliable guide to the truth. Bestsellers: often not the best; just good enough for the price. Two contexts when ad popular arguments can be good. Argument for a broad popular audience e. g. : argument against capital punishment. Ok to use as a premise: the christian thing to do is to forgive sinners (2) more common: arguments that can fit the following scheme:
