Basic Concepts of Reasoningand Argumentation I

Basic Concepts of Reasoningand Argumentation I

1. Proposition: as something that can be true or false

   • Truth-value (truth or falsehood)
   • Propositions and component propositions

2. Argument: as a set of reasons given in support of a proposition; its purpose is to show that a certain proposition is true by offering other propositons as reasons; contains ≥ 2 propositions

   • We also argue about what to do; put in the form of ' One should/ should not do'; targeted at actions rather than at truth, and make recommendations instead of simply describing the way things are
   • Inference claims; look out for inference indicators like 'therefore', 'this is because'
     • Implicit inference claims; refer to example of the switched positions of the conclusion and its premises
   • (Inference) Indicators
     • Reason/ premise indicators as words that indicate reasons e.g. as, since, given that
     • Conclusion indicators as words that indicate conclusions e.g. therefore, so, thus, which points to the conclusion that

3. Others

   • Statements that don't express propositions; Making requests, asking questions, issuing orders and commands, making resolutions and promises, and telling fictional stories
   • Rhetorical questions; e.g. Money is important. Who wants to be poor?
     • Defending the truth of the answer

4. Non-arguments

   • E.g. a passage of three propositions with no inference claims
   • Conditional propositions; where the conditional itself is a single proposition; a part of an argument
     • 'If antecedent then ... consequent"; antecedent as a hypothetical situation that does not determine the truth-value of the consequent
   • Explanations
     • Common knowledge that does not need further proof
     • Test for ... 'P because X' is an argument or explanation is to ask 'Is the truth of P already known or assumed?'; yes means an explanation, no means an argument
   • Sentences vs. arguments; passing a true/ false test

5. Are reasons the same as propositions