Argumentation Aristotle Session one.pptx

About Aristotelian approach to arguments

1. What is an argument ? Can you guess? Aristotle, 4 th ct BC An argument is a set of statements in which one of the statements is presented as being true - this is called the c___________, and the other statements are presented as reasons to believe that it is true - these are called the ___________es. 

2. What is an argument ? Can you guess? Aristotle, 4 th ct BC An argument is a set of statements in which one of the statements is presented as being true - this is called the conclusion , and the other statements are presented as reasons to believe that it is true - these are called the premises . p remise 1 + premise 2 ( premise 3, etc .) ------------------- = conclusion

3. Examples He’s coughing, he’s sneezing, and he looks terrible. He must be sick! premise premise premise conclusion This series of interconnected statements is an argument. The author is giving us reasons to believe that someone is sick.

4. Examples The Earth is the third planet from the sun. It is believed that the Earth was formed about 4.5 billion years ago. The Earth is the only planet where life is known to exist . statement statement statement This series of statements is not an argument. It reads as descriptive and not argumentative.

5. Are these arguments or not? If so, what is the conclusion and what are the premises? This shape can’t be a square, because all squares have four sides, and this shape has five sides. Exercise is the most important factor for maintaining health. Diet, social activity and luck are also extremely important. 3. Of course, Mary won’t eat shepherd’s pie. There’s meat in shepherd’s pie, and Mary’s a vegetarian. 

6. Are these arguments or not? If so, what is the conclusion and what are the premises? This shape can’t be a square, because all squares have four sides, and this shape has five sides. yes Exercise is the most important factor for maintaining health. Diet, social activity and luck are also extremely important. no 3. Of course, Mary won’t eat shepherd’s pie. There’s meat in shepherd’s pie, and Mary’s a vegetarian.  yes

7. Evaluating arguments – are we convinced or not? Use the three ‘critical questions’:    Do we accept the premises?  Do the premises lead logically to the conclusion?   Has the writer neglected any important points? 

8. Example: Do we accept the premises?  yes Do the premises lead logically to the conclusion? no Has the writer neglected any important points?  yes – jogging has many health benefits! Jogging can result in serious damage to the knees (Halloran et al 2018; Conze et al 2019). Furthermore, in some cases jogging can be the cause of heart attacks (Ireland 2015). The government should therefore make jogging illegal. 

9. Are these arguments acceptable or not? Evaluate them by asking the three critical questions. In 1994, Simpson was accused of two murders in California, but the court found him not guilty (Denton 1997). US Courts do not make mistakes, so we can be sure that Simpson did not commit the two murders.  Jones (2019) argues that Shakespeare must have spent time in Italy when he was a young man. Chandra (2019) presents evidence that this is not true. However, Jones is regarded as one of the world’s foremost authorities on Shakespeare ( Billhoe 2015). Thus, we can conclude that Shakespeare did travel to Italy when he was a young man.   3. Broadbeck (2005) claims that the theories of Sigmund Freud have been completely rejected; however, this is a false claim. Modern psychology rejects Freud’s theories (Eysenck 2004), but they are accepted in many Humanities subjects, including philosophy (e.g. Zizek 1995) and literary criticism (Eagleton 2000).  Do we accept the premises?  Do the premises lead logically to the conclusion? Has the writer neglected any important points? 

10. Are these arguments acceptable or not? Evaluate them by asking the three critical questions. In 1994, Simpson was accused of two murders in California, but the court found him not guilty (Denton 1997). US Courts do not make mistakes, so we can be sure that Simpson did not commit the two murders.  unacceptable Jones (2019) argues that Shakespeare must have spent time in Italy when he was a young man. Chandra (2019) presents evidence that this is not true. However, Jones is regarded as one of the world’s foremost authorities on Shakespeare ( Billhoe 2015). Thus, we can conclude that Shakespeare did travel to Italy when he was a young man.   unacceptable 3. Broadbeck (2005) claims that the theories of Sigmund Freud have been completely rejected; however, this is a false claim. Modern psychology rejects Freud’s theories (Eysenck 2004), but they are accepted in many Humanities subjects, including philosophy (e.g. Zizek 1995) and literary criticism (Eagleton 2000).  acceptable Do we accept the premises?  Do the premises lead logically to the conclusion? Has the writer neglected any important points?