Flashcards
Philosophy Critical Thinking Flashcards
Cards in this deck (43)
- 1StatementAssertions, Proposition; sentence used to make a claim; cannot be questions, commands, or wishes; properties = true or false: capable of being either true or false.
- 2The Law of Non-ContradictionIt is impossible for both a proposition and its negation to be true at the same time; they cannot contradict each other.
- 3The Law of the Excluded Middle/The Law of BivalenceEvery statement must either be true or be false, no other property exists; for any given proposition and its negation, one must be true and the other false.
- 4SetsMultiple statements in a group; Property = consistency: A set is consistent only if it is possible for all statements to be true at the same time, they can’t contradict each other.
- 5InferenceA logical relationship between thoughts; one thought provides support/justifies/makes it reasonable for the other though to be true; Indicators: since, thus, therefore, because, etc.
- 6Argumenta group of statements sowing a logical relationship of inference; set of statements that claims that one or more statements (premise) supports, justifies, or makes it reasonable to believe another one or more statements (conclusion) are/is true; Property = logical strength.
- 7Standard FormLine up premises, draw line under last premise, state conclusion.
- 8Logical StrengthHow strong the inference in an argument is; do the premises, if true, actually support the conclusion; note premises do not need to be true.
- 9SoundnessBest argument; and argument is sound if it is logically strong and has true premises.
- 10Inductive ArgumentClaims that the truth of premises makes the truth of its conclusion probable; Property = Inductive strength: replaces logically strong/weak with inductively strong/weak, how probable the conclusion is.
- 11Deductive ArgumentClaims the truth of premises guarantees the truth of the conclusion; Property = Deductive validity: replaces logical strength/weakness with deductive validity/invalidity.
- 12Disjunctive SyllogismComplex proposition; either p or q, not p, therefore q; p and q are disjuncts of the disjunction either p or q; deductive argument form.
- 13Reductio Ad Absurdumto reduce to an absurdity through assuming a proposition to be false and finding it to be false, proving its truth by law of non-contradiction and bivalence. Or, assuming a proposition to be true and then finding a contradiction, proving it false.
- 14EnthymemeAn argument in which the conclusion or a premise has been left unstated, but implied.
- 15SoritesA connected series of arguments where the conclusion of an argument also serves as a premise in another argument; a chain of arguments.
- 16Senseconnotation, intension; dictionary definition; what we understand when we understands the words meaning.
- 17ReferenceClass of things to which the words refers; the actual thing, as opposed to words in a dictionary or what’s in your head. Ex. Reference of horse – all horses in universe, past, present, and future.
- 18Reportive DefinitionReportive Definitions: Reports a word in its standard usage
- 19Standard UsageHow a word is used by people who are competent speakers of the language; can be fluid and changing.
- 20Stipulative DefinitionNot attempting to report standard usage, but to make a new meaning of the word, or to make it more precise. Ex. Argument’s standard usage as compared to its stipulative definition in philosophy.
- 21Essentialist DefinitionStates the real essence or nature of something; objective definition.
- 22Too BroadWhen the defining phrase in a reportive definition refers to some things that are not included in the reference of the term.
- 23Too NarrowWhen the defining phrase in a reportive definition fails to refer to some things that included in the reference of the term being defined.
- 24Too Broad and Too NarrowIts defining phrase refers to some things that the term does not apply and fails to refer to some things included in the term.
- 25Modus PonensAffirming the Antecedent; if p then q, p, therefore q; deductive argument form.
- 26The Principle of CharityTo use the most plausible interpretation of what someone has said, despite the fact that the least plausible (and often literal) interpretation would be easier to prove false. The most charitable interpretation is that which makes the opponent’s views as reasonable, plausible or defensible as possible. What separates the philosophers from the sophists. Use because purpose of rational discussion is to discover truth, not to win an argument.
- 27VaguenessLacking a precise meaning; has no specifiable meaning. Ex: I’m not sure I care much for Thrasymachus.
- 28AmbiguityTwo or more different precise meanings. Ex. Justice is in the interest of the stronger – physically strong or politically powerful?
- 29Semantic AmbiguityMultiple meanings of terms used; term can refer to two or more persons, things, properties, etc. Ex. Small children can make tasty snacks – prepare snacks, or be snacks?
- 30CollectiveUse of term refers to the whole class rather than each and every member. Ex. Athenians are philosophical. Collectively true – ancient Athenians are known for having been philosophical.
- 31DistributiveUse of term refers to each and every member of a class. Ex. Athenians are philosophical. Distributively not true – not every single person who lived in Athens was philosophical, for example Cephalus and Thrasymachus.
- 32UseTo use a word it to use it in its normal function to refer to something else; the word is a sign or a symbol of something else. Ex. The dog is big.
- 33MentionTo mention a word is to draw attention to the word itself. Ex. Dog is God spelled backwards.
- 34Grammatical AmbiguityAlso known as syntactical ambiguity; confusing grammatical construction rather than meaning of words; structure allows two or more interpretations which give rise to a different meaning. Ex. Last night I shot a burglar in my pyjamas.
- 35Analytic StatementStatements that are true by definition; their truth is simply a function of their meaning. Ex. Triangles have three sides.
- 36Contradictory StatementStatements that are false by definition; their truth is simply a function of their meaning. Ex. Triangles have four sides.
- 37Synthetic StatementYou cannot know if these statements are true or false due to meaning of the words; whose truth or falsity does not merely depend on the meaning of the terms used. Ex. Some students are married men.
- 38Antecedent ConditionThe condition that must be met for a claim to be true or something to occur. Ex. What do I have to do (Antecedent) to pass the course?
- 39ConsequentThe outcome of resultant state. Ex. What do I have to do to pass the course (consequent)?
- 40Necessary ConditionWhen the antecedent must occur for the consequent to occur. If the antecedent is absent, the consequent cannot occur. Ex. You must be male to be a citizen in Ancient Athens. If you are not male, you are not a citizen.
- 41Sufficient ConditionThe antecedent is a sufficient condition for the consequent is when if the antecedent is present the consequent is guaranteed/must occur. Ex. Being a cat is sufficient condition of being a mammal – not necessary, but sufficient.
- 42Individually Necessary and Jointly Sufficient Conditionsnecessary conditions that taken one by one are not sufficient, but when taken together constitute a sufficient condition. Ex. The following conditions to qualify as a citizen in Athens are individually necessary and jointly sufficient: Male, over 18, complete military service, etc. Being male is necessary, but not sufficient.
- 43Modus TollensDenying the Consequent; if p then q, not q, therefore not p; deductive argument form. Ex. If I am happy, then I am smiling. I am not smiling. Therefore I am not happy.
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- PHI1101 Flashcards on Philosophy Critical Thinking Flashcards, created by kdmlloyd on 05/11/2014.
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