PHI 1101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Modus Tollens

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: PHI 1101
• Professor: Corey Mulvihill

Document Summary

Conclusion: if other expenditures are held constant, then deficit will decrease: not simple; still a conditional phrase. Tax revenues will increase in a growing economy. Ei will not increase if unemployment does not worsen. Unemployment won"t increase b/c the economy will continue to grow : if the economy grows, employment increases; the economy will continue to grow. If other expenditures are held constant, then deficit will decrease. Argument flaws: unclear statements, words in different and/or unusual tenses, unnecessary details, missing premises or conclusions. Example: p. 16 ( guns : a teenager, who had threatened people, was shot. We do not criticize an argument until it is in the best light. Maximize the intelligibility of what you are reading. To use the principle of charity, make the following judgements: Use as little wording as possible to make a clear argument. Argument should be read in a way that corresponds with reality.