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Critical Thinking: A User’s Manual Chapter 3 Analyzing Arguments

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Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual. Chapter 3 Analyzing Arguments. What is an argument?. An argument is a set of claims; one of which is supported by the others. The conclusion is the claim that the arguer is trying to prove. The premise is a claim providing support for a conclusion . - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

Critical Thinking:A User’s Manual

Chapter 3Analyzing Arguments

Page 2: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

What is an argument?

An argument is a set of claims; one of which is supported by the others.The conclusion is the claim that the arguer is trying to prove.The premise is a claim providing support for a conclusion.

Page 3: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

Inference Indicators

Conclusion Indicatorstherefore…thus…consequently…so...hence…accordingly…

Premise Indicatorsbecause…since…for…given...as…follows from…

Page 4: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

What is the Issue?

An issue is any matter of controversy or uncertainty.

The issue is whether the conclusion is true.Different from a topic of conversation:

Topic: AbortionIssue: Whether abortion should remain legalIssue: Whether having an abortion is ethical

Page 5: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

Formal AnalysisStep 1: Place the conclusion at the bottom, and

label with Step 2: List each premise as P1, P2, etc. above the

conclusion.Step 3: Draw a line under the last premise.Step 4: Make sure each claim is written as a

complete sentence that can stand alone, replacing any pronouns with their referents.

Step 5: State the issue positively underneath the conclusion.

Page 6: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

Grace is armed, so she’s dangerous.

_______ so __________ premise conclusion

P:

Issue:

Page 7: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

Grace is not dangerous because she’s unarmed.

_______ because _______conclusion premise

P:

Issue:

Page 8: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

Your Turn!

How does identifying the conclusion help you identify the issue?

Page 9: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

Arguments without Indicators

Ask yourself, What is the main point of the argument?

Try inserting inference indicators to identify the conclusion and premise.claim 1 because claim 2.claim 1 therefore claim 2.

Page 10: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

You should buy Suave. It costs less than similar products from a salon.

You should buy Suave because it costs less than similar products from a salon.

You should buy Suave therefore, it costs less than similar products from a salon.

Page 11: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

You should buy Suave. It costs less than similar products from a salon.

P:

Issue:

Page 12: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

Extra Claims

Extra claims are claims that are included with arguments, but are neither premises nor conclusions.Provide rhetorical flourishProvide background information about the topicMotivate the argument by presenting an

opponent’s view

Page 13: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

Felipe ought to try out for wrestling, since he is both strong and quick. That’s what I would do if I were him.

P:

Issue:

Page 14: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

My boss thinks I should be content with my current salary, but I heartily disagree. Overtime and weekend work need to be compensated, and I put in plenty of both.

P1: P2:

Issue:

Page 15: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

Your turn!

How do you decide whether to include a claim in your Formal Analysis?

Page 16: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

Unstated Conclusions

Arguer thinks that the conclusion is so obvious that the reader will understand it without it being stated explicitly.

Must be identified in your analysis.

Page 17: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

Anyone guilty of leaking classified government documents is guilty of treason, and that is just what Julian Assange has done.

P1:

P2:

Issue:

Page 18: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

Implied Claims

Arguers sometimes use a non-claim rhetorically to imply a claim.Can be a premise or conclusion

Must be identified in your analysis

Page 19: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

You should be a philosophy major. Aren’t they smarter than everyone else?

P:

Issue:

Page 20: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

Your turn!

How is it possible that a sentence that is not a claim can play a role in an argument?

Page 21: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual
Page 22: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

Tan…don’t burn use Coppertone. Don’t be a paleface.

P1: P2:

Issue:

Page 23: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual
Page 24: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

Police Warning: Car Crime! While you’re walking, will the contents of your car do the same? Remove it or lose it. Seen something suspicious? Ring police emergency 999 or Crimestoppers 0800 555111.

P1: P2:

Issue:

Page 25: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

Multiple Arguments Arguments with multiple conclusions are two or

more arguments sharing the same premise(s). Chain arguments are two or more arguments

constituting a chain of reasoning.A subargument provides evidence for a premise of the

main argument.The intermediate conclusion is the claim that is both a

conclusion of a subargument and a premise of the main argument.

Page 26: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

The Saints are likely to retain all of their best starters from last year’s championship team. Thus, Reggie Bush will be their premier running back, and Drew Brees will be their quarterback this year.

_____. Thus, _____, and ______.premise conclusion conclusion

Page 27: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

The Saints are likely to retain all of their best starters from last year’s championship team. Thus, Reggie Bush will be their premier running back, and Drew Brees will be their starting quarterback this year.

P

P

Page 28: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

The Saints are likely to retain all of their best starters from last year’s championship team. Thus, Reggie Bush will be their premier running back, and Drew Brees will be their quarterback this year.

Issue:

Issue:

Page 29: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

Either the New Orleans Saints or the Indianapolis Colts will win the Super Bowl. The Colts obviously will not win the game, since their coverage is soft and their defense is undersized. So, the Saints will win the Super Bowl.

_____. _____, since _____ and _____. So _____. ? conclusion premise premise conclusion

Page 30: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

Either the New Orleans Saints or the Indianapolis Colts will win the Super Bowl. The Colts obviously will not win the game, since their coverage is soft and their defense is undersized. So, the Saints will win the Super Bowl.

P1 P2

P1 P2

Page 31: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

Either the New Orleans Saints or the Indianapolis Colts will win the Super Bowl. The Colts obviously will not win the game, since their coverage is soft and their defense is undersized. So, the Saints will win the Super Bowl.

Issue:

Page 32: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

Your Turn!

How can you determine when a multiple argument has multiple issues?

Page 33: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

Writing a Basic AnalysisStep 1: Identify the passage.

Identify the source if given. Identify the passage as an argument, explanation, or

neither an argument nor an explanation.

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Writing a Basic AnalysisStep 2: Analyze the passage.

If the passage is neither an argument nor an explanation, state why.

If the passage is an explanation, identify the explanandum and explanans.

If the passage is an argument, identify the issue, conclusion, and premises.

If the passage is a multiple argument, analyze each argument in a separate paragraph.

Page 35: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

Police are looking for a suspect who robbed a local gas station two weeks ago. Video from the station’s security camera shows a man walking into the store with a gun, pointing it at the cashier, and exiting the store with cash from the register. No injuries have been reported.

This passage contains neither an argument nor an explanation. It contains at least two claims, but none of the claims offers reasons for any of the others as is required in arguments and explanations.

Page 36: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

I was terrified because all I saw was this gun, and I really thought that he was going to shoot me.

This passage contains an explanation. The explanandum is that I was terrified. The explanans is that I saw a gun, and I thought that the gunman was going to shoot me.

Page 37: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

We believe that the suspect in this case is the same one responsible for two other gas station robberies that occurred earlier this month. The physical descriptions are very similar, and the same kind of weapon was used in all three incidents.

P1:

P2:

Issue:

Page 38: Critical Thinking: A User ’ s Manual

This passage contains an argument. The issue is whether the suspect in this robbery is the same one responsible for two other gas station robberies that occurred earlier this month. The conclusion is that the suspect in this robbery is the same one responsible for two other gas station robberies that occurred earlier this month. The first premise is that the physical descriptions of the suspects in all three gas station robberies this month are very similar. The second premise is that the same kind of weapon was used in all three gas station robberies this month.