1. How to Write an Argument
Philosophical Methods

2. There are 2 Types of Arguments
What does Monty Python’s Flying Circus have to do with writing arguments?
There are 2 Types of Arguments
A Contradiction or Dispute
“A collected series of statements to establish a definite proposition.”
Pay close attention to what the customer says during this time frame: (2:10-2:15)

3. Vocabulary Recapitulation
Proposition: A declarative sentence that has a truth value; however, it can either be true or false.
Are there kinds of sentences that are not propositions?
YES!
Sentences like: Questions, Commands, Exclamations, etc.
Why not?
Because they do not have “Truth Value.”
Do You Remember This?
Vocabulary Recapitulation
Proposition
Truth Value (new vocab term)

4. Which of these sentences have “Truth Value
Which of these sentences have “Truth Value?” (Using the smartboard, circle the truth value sentences.)
It is not Monday in Tokyo.
Eggs are not dairy.
Do not report to the Guidance Office.
Morality does not exist.
Some birds are not felines.
Sharks are not fish.
I am your teacher.
Holy crap!
What time is it?
Socrates is mortal.
All police officers eat donuts.
Go get me a donut.

5. Which of these sentences have “Truth Value
Which of these sentences have “Truth Value?” (Well, did we get everything correct?)
I am your teacher.
Holy crap!
What time is it?
Socrates is mortal.
All police officers eat donuts.
Go get me a donut.
It is not Monday in Tokyo.
Eggs are not dairy.
Do not report to the Guidance Office.
Morality does not exist.
Some birds are not felines.
Sharks are not fish.

6. Did I ever give a definition of Truth Value?
Nope, I didn’t.
Do you want me to?
Well…..
Nah, come up with one yourself 
Truth Value: _________________
_____________________________

7. Vocabulary Recapitulation
Premise: A proposition serving as a reason for a conclusion.
Conclusion: A proposition that is supported or entailed by a set of premises.
Example:
Premise: Anthony is an unmarried male.
Conclusion: Therefore, Anthony is a bachelor.
Do You Remember This?
Vocabulary Recapitulation
Premise
Conclusion

8. Argument: A set of propositions where one of which (conclusion) is claimed to have derived support or reason to believe from the others (premises).
Normal Form: The premises are in a vertical list with the conclusion under them separated by a line.
Example:
A Premise is a Proposition
A Conclusion is a Proposition
____________________________
Both a premise and a conclusion are propositions
Do You Remember This?
Vocabulary Recapitulation
Argument
Normal Form (new vocab term)

9. Come on now, do we really talk like that?
Normal Form
(Philosophy Talk)
Ordinary Language
(English prose or colloquial language)
OMG, did you hear what the principal said during our Senior meeting? Yikes, I like to sleep in class sometimes! The principal says people will be drug tested if they sleep in class because they must be on drugs! I guess for this reason, we can assume that I must be on drugs!
I sleep in class. People who sleep in class are on drugs. _______________________ I am on drugs.

10. Well, how the heck do you know what the premises and the conclusions are in ordinary language?
Some Premise Indicators
Some More Premise Indicators
Since
Because
For
In that As
For the reason that
Given that
May be inferred
Inasmuch as
Owing to

11. Well, how the heck do you know what the premises and the conclusions are in ordinary language?
Some Conclusion Indicators
More Conclusion Indicators
Therefore
Consequently
Thus
Hence
It follows that
For this reason
We may infer
We may conclude
Entails that
Implies that

12. Now, Let’s Practice!
In pairs, take some time to come up with 3 arguments in ordinary language (paragraph form). You can make the arguments as convoluted as you would like. The arguments should have multiple premises and the form should be varied. i.e.: the conclusion doesn’t have to come at the end, you can be colloquial or formal (like a thesis)…In other words, mix it up! I have some magazines you can look through, you can search blogs, editorials and I guess even YouTube videos for your inspiration.