1. Arguments, arguments, and more arguments
Arguments, arguments, and more arguments!: A primer on philosophical method
Kareem Khalifa
What this class is all about
4/8/2019

2. Philosophy is critical thinking
Critical thinking is recognizing, analyzing, and criticizing arguments
Recognizing arguments: identifying premises and conclusions
Analyzing arguments: stating how the premises make the conclusion likely
Criticizing arguments: identifying potentially false premises or weak connections between premise and conclusion
What this class is all about
4/8/2019

3. Recognizing arguments
All arguments have premises and conclusions
Find the conclusion first; that’s the main point of any argument
Conclusion-indicators: thus, therefore, hence, so, then, it follows that
Premise-indicators: since, because, due to, it follows from
What this class is all about
4/8/2019

4. Are these arguments?
String theory says that all aspects of our universe -- the particles that make up matter and the forces that act on those particles -- consist of tiny strings of energy.
A theory is scientific only if it is empirically testable. String theory is not empirically testable. So string theory is not a scientific theory.
What this class is all about
4/8/2019

5. Analyzing arguments How do the premises support the conclusion?
Premises must make a conclusion more plausible, probable, likely
Different ways to do this, but look for important logical operators, e.g., or, but, only, if…then, necessarily, possibly, all, some, etc.
What this class is all about
4/8/2019

6. Analyze this!
If a theory is scientific then it is empirically testable. String theory is not empirically testable. So string theory is not a scientific theory.
What this class is all about
4/8/2019

7. Analyze this!
If a theory is scientific then it is empirically testable. String theory is not empirically testable. So string theory is not a scientific theory.
If p then q. It is not the case that q. So it is not the case that p.
What this class is all about
4/8/2019

8. Criticizing arguments
Two ways:
1) Find a false premise
2) Show that the conclusion does not follow from premise, i.e., there are cases when premises are true and conclusion is false.
What this class is all about
4/8/2019

9. Criticize this!
A theory is scientific only if it is empirically testable. String theory is not empirically testable. So string theory is not a scientific theory.
What this class is all about
4/8/2019

10. Criticize this!
A theory is scientific only if it is empirically testable. String theory is not empirically testable. So string theory is not a scientific theory.
Criticism: String theory may be empirically testable. We may not currently know of any empirical tests for string theory, but this doesn’t mean that no such tests exist.
What this class is all about
4/8/2019

11. Applications in Reading
Understanding non-fiction just is reconstructing the author’s argument
When you’re stumped: recognize and analyze
Entertain different interpretations—which provides the most convincing argument?
What this class is all about
4/8/2019

12. Applications in Writing
Make sure you have an argument
Use premise-indicators, conclusion-indicators, and logical operators to make the structure of your argument clear
Make sure you have only an argument
Avoid fluff and extraneous language
Avoid digressions and tangents—Ask yourself how each sentence is necessary for your argument
We will spend time discussing good writing strategies
What this class is all about
4/8/2019

13. Critical thinking matters
You may forget what Descartes said, but don’t forget about critical thinking
An effective way of avoiding deceptive (though frequently persuasive) rhetoric
Important in nearly every facet of life
What this class is all about
4/8/2019