Phil 004
Week 3 – Day 3
Chapter 3: Clarity of an
Argument
Review: Clear
Thinking/Writing(Ch3)
• Argument may not really be an
argument if it’s not clear;
confusing.
• Prime culprits:
• Missing information, definitions,
context, etc.
• Vagueness
• Ambiguity
Review:
Vagueness or Ambiguity?
Why would
somebody
claim these
instructions
are too
vague?
57
Review:
Vagueness or Ambiguity?
“
”
58
Ambiguity:
Syntax & Semantics?
• “Jordan could write more
profound essays.”
– Syntax Ambiguity: “More” what?
• “Charles drew his gun.”
– Semantic Ambiguity: “Drew” has
more than one meaning.
59
Ambiguous Headlines:
Review of Answers
• Groups: Tell me how the following
headlines are ambiguous. Are they
syntactically ambiguous or
semantically ambiguous? +1 bonus
point to group that gets the most
correct.
60
What Kind of
Ambiguity?
• Real life headlines:
–1. “PROSTITUTES
APPEAL TO POPE”
–Semantic (“appeal”)
What Kind of
Ambiguity?
• Real life headlines:
–2. “QUEEN MARY
HAVING BOTTOM
SCRAPED”
–Semantic (“Queen
Mary”)
What Kind of
Ambiguity?
• Real life headlines:
–3. “MINERS REFUSE TO
WORK AFTER DEATH”
–Syntax (does this refer to
after your own death or
somebody else’s)
What Kind of
Ambiguity?
• Real life headlines:
–4. “MILK DRINKERS ARE
TURNING TO POWDER”
–Semantic (“turning”)
What Kind of
Ambiguity?
• Real life headlines:
–5. “SAFETY EXPERTS SAY
SCHOOL BUS
PASSENGERS SHOULD
BE BELTED”
–Semantic (“belted”)
What Kind of
Ambiguity?
• Real life headlines:
–6. “INCLUDE YOUR
CHILDREN WHEN
BAKING COOKIES”
–Syntax (does this refer to
including your children in
the activity or as an
ingredient)
Ambiguous Headlines
Second Try!!
• Groups: Tell me how the following
headlines are ambiguous. Are they
syntactically ambiguous or
semantically ambiguous? +1 bonus
point to group that gets the most
correct.
68
What Kind of
Ambiguity?
• Real life headlines:
–1. “KIDS MAKE
NUTRITIOUS SNACKS”
What Kind of
Ambiguity?
• Real life headlines:
–2. “STOLEN PAINTING
FOUND BY TREE”
What Kind of
Ambiguity?
• Real life headlines:
–3. “GRANDMOTHER OF
EIGHT MAKES HOLE IN
ONE”
What Kind of
Ambiguity?
• Real life headlines:
–4. “DRUNK GETS NINE
MONTHS IN VIOLIN
CASE”
What Kind of
Ambiguity?
• Real life headlines:
–5. “NURSE HELPS DOG
BITE VICTIM”
What Kind of
Ambiguity?
• Real life headlines:
–6. “ENRAGED COW
INJURES FARMER WITH
AX”
What Kind of
Ambiguity?
• Real life headlines:
–7. “WOMAN GETS 9
YEARS FOR KILLING 11TH
HUSBAND”
What Kind of
Ambiguity?
• Real life headlines:
–1. “KIDS MAKE
NUTRITIOUS SNACKS”
–Semantic (“make”)
What Kind of
Ambiguity?
• Real life headlines:
–2.“STOLEN PAINTING
FOUND BY TREE”
–Semantic (“by”)
What Kind of
Ambiguity?
• Real life headlines:
–3. “GRANDMOTHER OF
EIGHT MAKES HOLE IN
ONE”
– Semantic (“hole in one”)
What Kind of
Ambiguity?
• Real life headlines:
–4. “DRUNK GETS NINE
MONTHS IN VIOLIN
CASE”
–Semantics (“case”)
What Kind of
Ambiguity?
• Real life headlines:
–5. “NURSE HELPS DOG
BITE VICTIM”
–Syntax (does this refer to
a victim bitten by a dog
or assisting a dog in the
biting of a person)
What Kind of
Ambiguity?
• Real life headlines:
–6. “ENRAGED COW
INJURES FARMER WITH
AX”
–Syntax (does this refer to
a farmer with an ax or a
cow with an ax)
What Kind of
Ambiguity?
• Real life headlines:
–7. “WOMAN GETS 9
YEARS FOR KILLING 11TH
HUSBAND”
– Syntax (does this refer to a
women who has killed 11
husbands or does this refer to
the killing of her 11th husband)
How is this ambiguous?
De Anza college students drink more
beer than Foothill college students.
•Are we saying
“collectively, De Anza
students drink more (more
drinks consumed by De
Anza college students in
total)
•Are we saying
individually, more De Anza
students drink than
Foothill students (more
often than not, a De Anza
student will drink more.) 85
Types of Ambiguity
1. Syntax
2. Semantic
3. Grouping
86
“Grouping Ambiguity”
When it is unclear if you are
referring to a group of things
collectively or individually.
87
Grouping Ambiguity
• “Attorneys make less money than
physicians.”
• “Seven people rode in that taxi.”
• “Which causes more air pollution,
lawn mowers or motorcycles?”
88
Group Activity
• Exercise 3-8 #2, 8, 9, 13,
– Group or individual?
•
•
•
•
2. Group
8. Individual
9. Group
11. Individual
89