“Argument.”
NOT: “arguement”
A series of statements, one of which claims to be true
as a consequence of the other(s).
A statement is a specific kind of sentence.
Statements are sentences that have the possibility of
being true or false.
A series of statements, one of which claims to be true as
a consequence of the other(s).
“claims to be”
Not: “is”
The point of argument analysis is to determine whether
this claim is justified.
Defining “argument” as “a series of statements, one of which
is true as a consequence of the other(s)” implies that all
arguments are good arguments, and that there is no need for
argument analysis, or Logic.
A series of assertions, one or more of which claim to
establish the truth of another.
The statements that provide the support:
premises
The statement that is claimed to be established:
conclusion
An argument can have only one conclusion.
It’s too warm for January, so there must be something
to this global-warming theory.
Maybe this global-warming theory is right because
it’s crazy how warm it is here this winter.
It’s supposed to be cold in January, but it’s not this
year. Therefore there might be something to this
theory of global warming.
Typical Premise indicating words:
since…
because…
as…
for…
given that…
inasmuch as…
owing to…
for the reason that…
in that…
Typical conclusion indicating words:
so…
therefore…
thus…
hence…
accordingly…
consequently…
it follows that…
it must be that…
proves that…
as a result…
Since the good, according to Plato, is what furthers
a person’s real interests, it follows that, in any given
case, when the good is known men will seek it.
As the denial or perversion of justice by the sentence of
courts, as well as in any other manner, is with reason
classed among the just causes of war, it will follow that
the federal judiciary ought to have cognizance of all
causes in which the citizens of other countries are
concerned. (Hamilton, Federalist Papers # 80)
Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action
and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good; and for
this reason the good has rightly been declared to be
that at which all things aim. (Aristotle)
The fact that we live already in an understanding of Being
and that the meaning of Being is at the same time
shrouded in darkness proves the fundamental
necessity of recovering the question of the meaning of
“Being.” (Heidegger, Being and Time)
What is wrong with each of these?
1. An argument is a series of statements that claim something is true.
2. An argument is a sentence of several statements that prove
one of them is true.
3. An argument is a series of assertions in which one is true
because of the others.
4. An argument is a series of sentences one of which proves the others.
5. An argument is a set of claims that claims that one of
the claims is true as a result of the others.
6. An argument is a series of sentences one of which is
supposed to be true as a consequence of the others.