PHL 214 Chapter 1: Week 1- What is an Argument?
Document Summary
Chapter 1: what is an argument? (and what is not?) Arguments: found where controversy or disagreement about a subject and then people try to resolve that disagreement rationally. Conclusion: a claim made about a certain subject. Premises: reasons for making the specific claim. Set of claims where one or more of them (the premises) are put forward so as to offer reasons for another claim (the conclusion) A reasoned attempt to justify a claim on the basis of other claims. It takes police to thoroughly enforce the law. The first two statements are the premises. The final statement, following therefore, is the conclusion. Opinion: belief, often held with a rather low degree of confidence. The political right to hold any opinion doesn"t mean that all opinions are equal. The point of arguing and evaluating arguments is to reach opinions based on reasoned reflection and good judgement. Since, because, for, as indicated by, follows from, as shown by, given that, etc.
