Philosophy 101: Class Notes 1/18/2021
Definition: An argument is an attempt to justify or prove a conclusion using a
premise set.
Which needs two things:
-Premise
-Conclusion
Keynote: Think about the logic during an argument not the individual’s
traits.
? Question: Why should you want to learn to argue?
-> The world has all aspects of needing to prove your point, AKA, even the
internet is horrendous with the concept of arguing. Learning to prove a point is
necessary in the world overall.
? Question: Do you have good premises to support your conclusion?
ß Main conclusion
l
i
h
P
P
h
i
l
è Premise
(2 boxes)
REMEMBER!!! Make sure your
premises support one another. Make
sure they make sense!!!
Philosophers have good academia in all things unlike specialized experts as in:
Stephan Hawking.
Specialized experts only specialize in one area!!!
A. Basic Standardizing
Example 1:
Well, John is three meters tall, so it is clear that he is
tall.
P1: John is three meters tall.
C: So, John is tall.
Well, [1] John is three meters tall, [2] so it is clear that
he is tall.
John is Tall [2]
John is 3
meters tall. [1]
John is tall.
John is three meters tall.
__________________________________________________________________
Serial: A premise set used to support a sub-conclusion forms a premise for another
argument.
C
P1
P
Linked: Two (or more) premises work together to support a conclusion
C
P1
P2
Convergent: The premises are logically independent
C
P1
P2
Divergent: A premise set supports two or more conclusions
C1
C2
P
Simple: A single premise supports a conclusion
C
P
? [1] Andy wants pizza. [2] Betty wants pizza. So, [3] some want pizza.
3
3
1
1
2
2
Which is right?
è They’re both right. Both diagrams are more precise in the English Lang. It
can go either way.
Keynotes!!!
This shows that -> Conclusion Indicator
Since -> Premise Indicator
For -> Premise Indicator
? [1] Five of us are going to dinner. [2] Andy, Betty, and Charlie want pizza. [3]
Apparently, Darlene has just voted for pizza as well. So [4] most of us want pizza.
4
4
1
2
3
2
1
3
Which is right?
Left, due to 3 being the left-out party when it should be included with the others.
? [3] Since there are no mental diseases, [2] there can be no treatments for mental
diseases. [1] So, to call a psychiatric institution a “treatment center” is a
euphemism for a prison.
1
2
3
? [1] Italy is fundamentally a catholic country where scientific culture was
relatively underdeveloped until recent times. Thus [2] it is very probable that
altruistic suicides are more frequent in Italy than in France or Germany, since [3]
Altruistic suicides usually occur in inverse ratio to intellectual development.
2
1
3
? [1] Mary has just broken up with Barry. [2] so, no doubt, Mary is feeling sad. [3]
We probably shouldn’t ask Mary to go to the pub, [4] for Mary is likely bad
company [5] since sad people are bad company. [6] Besides which, I hear Mary is
broke.
3
4
2
1
6
5