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Arguments

A falasafaz! presentation

Which arguments?

Not this More like this

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Defining Arguments

An argument is a connected series of statements intended to establish a proposition.

Reasons – and the relations between them – determine whether we should logically accept a particular conclusion. 3

Activity #1

Using the video (click here or the witch):What reasons are offered to logically support the conclusion that ‘she is a witch’?

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How do you know she’s a witch?

(1)She looks like a witch – she’s dressed like a witch, is wearing a pointy hat, has a pointy nose, and she even has a wart. Therefore, she’s a witch.

Problem: The villagers dressed her as a witch. Not only is her looking like a witch an illusion, but it isn’t one she’s responsible for.

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How do you know she’s a witch?

(2)She turned the villager into a newt (even though he got better).

Problem: ????

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How do you know she’s a witch?

You burn witches You also burn wood

So witches must burn because they’re made of wood

But how do we know she’s made of wood?

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How do you know she’s a witch?

NO.

You can make bridges out of stone or wood, so making a bridge out of her won’t tell you if she’s wood.

But! As well as burning, wood also floats.

Ducks also float. Therefore…

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Make a bridge out of her?

How do you know she’s a witch?

If the woman weighs the same as a duck…

Then she’s a witch.

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Recap on arguments

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Reasons

Conclusions

AssumptionsInference

Implications

Evaluating arguments?

• Are the reasons true?

• Are the reasons relevant and significant to the conclusion?

• Is the inference valid?

• Is the conclusion plausible? 11

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