Definitions
What are propositions? Give an example of the proposition
A proposition is a statement that is either TRUE or FALSE.
ex: Ms. Walia is 5'7 (this is true because it is something that can be proven)
"Why listen to her opinion on education? She dropped out of high school."
Ad Hominem / Attack on Person
Tell me the three types of arguments and what they are
1. Deductive - absolute right or wrong, either valid or invalid
2. Inductive - an argument in 1 premise might be true but conclusion is not true
3. Abductive - data/ evidence
What is Okham's Razor?
What are arguments and what is it composed of?
Arguments are propositions that the arguer believes to be true. The argument must have premises and a conclusion (there is always a relationship between the two)
Define and explain all three laws of thinking
1. the law of identity - a 'thing' is itself
2. the law of non-contradiction - nothing can be both
3. the law of the excluded middle - either or, no middle
"If we allow students to redo their assignments, soon they’ll expect to redo entire courses."
Slippery Slope
Tell me the argument:
Premise 1: All reptiles lay eggs.
Premise 2: A turtle is a reptile.
Conclusion: Therefore, a turtle lays eggs.
Strong deductive argument
Apply Ockham’s razor to the following scenario:
You thought your dog was downstairs sleeping, but you hear paws travelling up your stairs.
Your dog is coming upstairs (you thought wrong)
What kind of pet does Ms. Walia have? You get an extra 100 points if you remember the name
I have a dog!! His name is Bouncer
What is a syllogism? (bonus 100 point if you can give me an example)
It is a deductive argument - a logical argument where the premises and conclusion are true making this a true argument
"You only support environmental regulations because you want to gain more votes, so your opinion is not valid."
Attack on the Motive
Tell me the argument:
There are many empty food wrappers in the kitchen.
Someone had a late-night snack.
Therefore, someone likely had a late-night snack.
Abductive
What is rationalism and which philosopher prioritized this school of thought over empiricism?
Rationalism is the belief that reason and logic are the main sources of knowledge rather than sensory experiences. Truth comes from the mind through thinking and reasoning, not from what we see or feel.
It was Plato!!
What did the red pill and blue pill do in The Matrix?
Red Pill - to see the "truth of reality", no matter how brutal or harsh
Blue Pill - To remain in the state of ignorance/ comfort, to remain in the simulation
What are the three parts of cogent thinking/ arguments?
1. The meanings of terms are clear and appropriate
2. The premises are accepted as true
3. The premises are judged as giving strong support for the conclusion
"Each player on the basketball team is an excellent athlete, so the team as a whole must be excellent."
Composition
Tell me the argument:
In the past five years, the economy has grown each year.
Therefore, the economy will probably grow again this year.
Inductive
What is Socratic Dialogue and who created it?
Socrates
Socratic dialogue is learning through discussion or argument
What else does Ms. Walia teach? (1/2 answers required - extra 100 points if you get all three right)
Gr 9 English
Gr 10 Food and Nutrition
All of you!!!!!
What were the different periods in early philosophy and give me a quick overview of the conclusions
1. Classical Period - forming relationships with the world making it more rational rather than mythical/ religious
2. Medieval Period - understanding God, ethics and reality using both faith and reason
3. Renaissance Period - humans shape their own destiny, knowledge should be tested not just accepted
4. Enlightenment Period - individual rights and freedoms, governments serve the people not the other way around
5. Early Modern Period - balancing faith and reason while science and religion were clashing between each other
6. Late Modern Period - questioning technology and what leads to be a better society
7. Contemporary Period - diversity in conversations, modern struggles
“You think we should have stricter gun laws? So you want to take away everyone’s guns!"
Straw Man
Name the argument:
Premise: Most students in my class enjoy video games.
Conclusion: Therefore, it is likely that the average student enjoys video games.
Inductive
Francis Bacon came up with the 4 Idols, tell me what they are
1. Idols of the Tribe - human nature is deceiving, our senses or emotions assume things
2. Idols of the Cave - your individual experiences and senses shapes the world you see
3. Idols of the Market - language can be misleading, not everything can be translated or taken at face value
4. Idols of the Theatre - societal systems have been put in place shaping the amount of thinking you do
Why is it important to use good reasoning? (5 answers)
Avoid manipulation, helps us make decisions, helps us defend our positions, helps us decide which information is valid, helps us make sense of the world