Critical Thinking
Parts of an Argument
Arguments
Deductive vs Inductive
Be Clear
100
passively absorbing information
What is lower order thinking
100
claim defended by reason
What is argument
100
do not prove but, support the conclusion
What is inductive argument
100
conclusion doesn't follow probably from the premise...the conclusion is unlikely to be true because the premise is likely false
What is a weak inductive argument
100
2 ways to be clearer
What is to replace the entire sentence by another that isn't vague, ambiguous, or overgeneral or use definitions to make specific words or phrases clear
200
love of wisdom
What is philosophy
200
Identify the conclusion: Abortion is wrong because the unborn child has been murdered.
abortion is wrong
200
If A, then B. Not B Therefore, not A
What is modus tollens- denying the consequent
200
valid and all premises are true
What is a sound deductive argument
200
info is too broad
What is overgeneral
300
evaluation and analysis of ideas and information
What is higher order thinking
300
Sentence in the form of a question but is intended to be understood as a statement
What is rhetorical question
300
If A, then B. A. Therefore, B.
What is modus ponens- affirming antecedent
300
Is the following statement valid? If not, why? If Bigfoot is human, then Bigfoot has a heart. Bigfoot is not human. So, Bigfoot does not have a heart.
What is invalid because the argument denies the antecedent.
300
border line case
What is vagueness
400
blind acceptance of ideas and beliefs
What is dogmatism
400
Determine if the statement is an argument. If so determine which part is the premise and which is the conclusion: According to baseball statistician Bill James, Stan Musial was a better all-around baseball player than Ted Williams because Musial was, in addition to a great hitter, a better fielder and base-runner than Williams was.
Statement is not an argument
400
states that the conclusion should follow from the premise to be treated as a deductive argument
What is strict necessity test
400
Determine whether the argument is sound or unsound. California has a larger population than Ohio. Ohio has a larger population than Vermont. Therefore, California has a larger population than Vermont.
What is sound
400
Determine the type of definition: Poet means a person such as John Keats, Walt Whitman, or Emily Dickinson.
What is enumerative
500
systematic evaluation of beliefs or claims, by rational standards
What is critical thinking
500
Determine whether the statement is an argument. If so what is the premise? conclusion? It is clear that there never was a time when nothing existed; otherwise nothing would exist now.
The premise is 'otherwise nothing would exist now.' The conclusion is 'it is clear that there never was a time when nothing existed.'
500
Determine the type of argument of the given statement: If I don't stop for gas soon, then I'll run out of gas. If I run out of gas I'll be late for the meeting. Therefore, if I don't stop for gas soon, I will be late for the meeting.
What is chain argument
500
Determine if the argument is deductive or inductive. If it is deductive state whether it is valid or invalid, and sound or unsound. If it is inductive state whether it is strong or weak and cogent or uncogent. Nearly all U.S. presidents were born before 1925. It stands to reason, therefore, the next president will have been born before 1925.
What is a weak, uncogent inductive argument
500
Determine whether the statement is vague, overgeneral, or ambiguous. St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Dizzy Dean was famous for his strong arm and weak mind. In the 1934 World Series, Dean was pegged in the head while sliding into second base. A headline the next day read:"X-rays of Dean's Head Show Nothing."
What is ambiguous
M
e
n
u