history of philosophy lecture 1-b what is philosophy? (part 2) by david kelsey
Post on 13-Dec-2015
221 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
Arguments
• The second major task of philosophy is making arguments.• A philosopher makes arguments in performing his conceptual analysis.
– An argument about the correct definition of KNOWLEDGE or LOVE
• An argument: one statement is inferred from one or more other statements.– Example:
.
• Inference: a statement that follows from one or more other statements.– The inference made: – ‘Infer’ can also be used as a verb: – Infer the noun:
Propositions are the meanings of sentences
• An inference: a statement that follows from one or more other statements.
• A statement is a proposition.
• A proposition: the meaning of a sentence
• Words have meanings:
– Cat
• Just as words have meanings, sentences have meanings.
– Example: The cat is on the Mat.
Propositions
• The form of a proposition: – ‘it is the case that…’.
– Propositions are true or false.
Propositions & Sentences
• A sentence does two different things: it both expresses a proposition and asserts a proposition.
• The expressed proposition: – The literal meaning of the words of that sentence.
– What is literal meaning?
– Example in Sarcasm
Expressing a proposition
• For a sentence to express a proposition: – is for that sentence to toss the proposition up in the air, so to speak.
– It is to put the proposition up for usage.
• Knowing what proposition a sentence expresses is often quite easy. – It is the case that…
– Example: I went to the store
The asserted Proposition
• Making use of a proposition: – Just how a sentence makes use of the proposition it expresses determines it’s actual
or intended meaning.
• The actual or intended meaning of a sentence: what the speaker or writer of the sentence means when she writes or says it.
– Miscommunication and the hearer’s understanding of the asserted proposition…
Asserting a proposition #2
• Assertion: – The actual or intended meaning of a sentence is what is asserted by the words of the sentence.
• Declaration: – For a sentence to assert a proposition is simply for the sentence to declare of the proposition that it is
the case.
– Example: the cat is on the mat and the cat is orange.
Sarcasm
• Other kinds of sentences:
• Sarcasm:– The messy roomate:
• “She always takes out the trash”.
• This sentence expresses:
• But the sentence asserts:
The laws of logic
• The laws of logic: are rules for making a correct inference P given a certain set of propositions Q1-n.
– Socrates example
• Arguments: when one proposition is inferred from one or more other propositions
– Other definitions of an Argument
Arguments
• Argument: a position supported by reasons for its truth.
– To take a position:
• taking a side or stand on an issue.
– An issue: what is raised when one considers whether or not a proposition is true.
• There are always 2 sides to an issue
Issues
• Issues:– we might go as far as to say that an issue just is a question.
– Intelligent life:
– Safety belt law:
– Mac vs. Pc:
Arguments & Positions
• Arguments & Positions: so when we take a position on an issue and support it with reasons we have given an argument.
– Intelligent life:
– Safety Belt law:
– Mac vs. Pc:
Conclusions &Premises
• Arguments:– The conclusion of an argument:
– The premises of an argument:
– Examples:• Socrates again
• Raining and Pouring
What an argument isn’t
• What an argument isn’t: Let us be a bit clearer about what an argument is by stating what it isn’t.
– Not a Fight:
– Not Persuasion: • Advertisement example:
Persuasion
• Persuasion vs. Argument:– An argument offers support for some claim, its conclusion.
– Persuasion needn’t offer any support for a point.• Not Logic: It merely attempts to get you to believe a point.
– This attempt needn’t be one through logic though.
• Persuasion through rhetoric:
• Rhetoric: is “a broad category of linguistic techniques people use when their primary objective is to influence beliefs and attitudes and behavior”
Arguments vs.Explanations
• Arguments vs. Explanations:
– Explanation of X: If one gives an explanation about some thing X, one gives some details about X with the hope of coming to better understand X.
• Example: fixing a flat tire
Recognizing Arguments
• Conclusion Indicators: find the conclusion of an argument by looking for conclusion indicators.
– Examples of Conclusion Indicators: therefore, hence, and others
• Premise Indicators: find the premises of an argument by looking for premise indicators
– Examples of Premise Indicators: because, since, and others.
An introduction to formalizing an argument
• Challenging an argument: – In challenging an argument you must first formalize it.
• Formalizing an argument: – Is the reconstruction of that argument in its most simplified form.
• Read the passage
• Write down the argument’s propositions
Explicit Premises
• Explicit premises: – asserted by the words of the text.
• Simplifying the premises:
top related