Critical Thinking
Primarily the ability to think carefully about thinking and reasoning -- to criticize your own
... [Show More] reasoning.
Propositions
statements that can be true or false.
True or False: A statement and a proposition are the same thing.
True.
Non-Propositions
Are not statements about matters of fact. They do not make a claim that can be true or false.
True or False: A sentence and a proposition are not the same thing.
True.
Simple Propositions
Have no internal logic structure, meaning whether they are true or false does not depend on whether a part of them is true or false. They are simply true or false on their own. (Example: Harry Potter wears glasses. The sky is blue.)
Complex Propositions
have internal logical structure, meaning they are composed of simple propositions. Whether they are true or false depends on whether their parts are true or false and how those parts are connected.
Words used to identify independent propositions
AND, OR, EITHER, BUT, IF, THEN.
Premise
a proposition supporting or helping to support a conclusion.
True or False: Premises are are supposed to be statements that, if you accept they are true, give you reason to believe that the conclusion is also true.
True.
Arguments can go wrong in two ways
1. Bad inferential structure 2. False premise
Bad inferential structure
The premises do NOT in fact, demonstrate or maybe even support the conclusion. We can accept the premises as true without being logically compelled to accept the conclusion.
false premise
Something wrong with their particular content.
All arguments are composed of _________ and _________, which are both types of statements.
premises and conclusions.
True or False: We CANNOT recognize conclusions and premises by identifying certain words being used.
False. (Indicators are used to spot a conclusion or a premise.)
Conclusion Indicators
thus, therefore, hence, consequently, as a result, so, accordingly, clearly, must be that, shows that, we must/may conclude that, it follows that, for this reason, ergot, entails that, wherefore.
Premise Indicators
because, since, for, for example, for the reason that, in that, given that, as indicated by, due to, owing to, this can be seen from, we know this by, supposing that, assuming that, as.
Conclusion
the claim that the whole argument is intended to support, demonstrate or prove.
Premises
Claims, evidence, and ideas intended to support the conclusion. If the assumptions are true, and the argument has a good inferential structure, then the conclusion either must be or is likely to be true as well.
Bad argument
premises do not support the conclusion.
Good argument
premises support the conclusion.
True or False: an explanation is an argument, so is a story, series of disconnected statements, or any set of statements that do not contain inferential connection.
False.
Inductive argument
are meant to provide probable support for their conclusions, and good inductive arguments are said to be both strong and cogent.
Deductive argument
meant to provide decisive support for their conclusions, and good deductive arguments are said to be both valid and sound. [Show Less]