Introduction to Logical ThinkingPart OneArgument Identification

What is an Argument?

There are two ways to understand this term:

• The ordinary, everyday meaning of ‘argument’

• The technical meaning of ‘argument’

Many terms have different meanings depending on the context and the situation where they are used, for example:

• Virus• Cookie• Home

Can you think of any terms that have different meanings in different contexts and situations?

The same applies to the term ‘argument!’

Argument has at least two different meanings:

• Again, the everyday, ordinary meaning

• The technical meaning

What is the ordinary, everyday meaning of the term ‘argument?’

The everyday meaning of ‘argument’ is:

• A quarrel or dispute between two or more people

• A disagreement between two or more people

• It could lead to a physical confrontation between two or more people

Needless to say, this is not what the discipline of logic means by the term ‘argument.’

That’s not what the term ‘argument’ means in logic!!

Well, what does it mean?

Based on Activity 4, an argument, as the word is understood in logic, is this:

• Whenever you have an opinion, and at least one piece of evidence (may be fact or opinion) is offered to prove that that opinion is true.

• To have an argument, you must have:– At least two claims– Intent to prove a claim– At least one piece of evidence offered

What is a claim? Let’s review.

• A claim is a statement that is true or false, or anything that expresses a true or false statement.– phrases and single words (example:

You should divorce Harry because he is cheap, has been cheating on you, and stinks.)

– Rhetorical questions

The author’s of your text give us two different definitions (note: you must know both)

• The functional definition of ‘argument’

• The structural definition of ‘argument’

What is the functional definition of ‘argument?’

If you don’t know this definition, you will bein big trouble!

The functional definition of ‘argument:’

• A composition whose primary purpose is to persuade a person by appealing to the person’s reasoning capacity

That’s not hard, so memorize it!!!!!!!!

Don’t let this be you when you get your test back!

Study your definitions!

O.K. I got that! But what is the structural definition of ‘argument?’

Structural definition of argument:

• A composition consisting of a set of claims one of which, called the ‘conclusion,’ is supported by the others, called the ‘premises.’

That’s not hard, either. So know it!!!!

Begging won’t helpif you don’t know your definitions!!

Or, you could understand ‘argument’ in this way.

You have an argument whenever you have an opinion, and at least one piece of evidence is offered to prove that the opinion is true. The opinion you are trying to prove is called the ‘conclusion,’ and the evidence is called the ‘premise.’

So now let’s see what you know.

Is this an argument, as the term is understood in logic?

• The Easter Bunny must have been here. There are bunny tracks in the mud; there is an Easter basket on the table, and there is a chocolate bunny under my pillow.

Good! Now let’s do some exercises.

• Pp. 71-72 of text• Activity 5

Homework: Put this in your workbook!

• Write five examples of arguments as the term is understood in logic. These must be typed and placed in our workbook right after Activity 5.

If you study your logic, your brain will be like my body!!!