A Practical Study of Argument (with InfoTrac)

by Govier, Trudy

• ISBN13: 9780534519766
• ISBN10: 0534519768
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-07-11
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

Learn to formulate better arguments with A PRACTICAL STUDY OF ARGUMENT! Providing you with a practical introduction to sound argumentation, this philosophy text gives you the tools you need to understand formal logic and formulate a good argument. Real world examples are included to show you how theory is brought to life in everyday practice. Tools such as exercises with answers, a glossary of common fallacies, chapter summaries, and a book-specific website give you the practice you need to master the material with ease.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
What Is an Argument? (And What Is Not?)	1	(28)
Argument and Opinion	1	(2)
What Is an Argument?	3	(4)
Where and How Do You Find Arguments?	7	(3)
Why Are Arguments Important?	10	(2)
What Isn't an Argument?	12	(6)
Argument and Explanation: What's the Difference?	18	(11)
Chapter Summary	27	(1)
Review of Terms Introduced	27	(1)
Notes	28	(1)
Pinning Down Argument Structure	29	(39)
Standardizing an Argument	29	(5)
From Colloquial Writing to Standardized Form	34	(4)
General Strategies for Standardizing Arguments	38	(5)
Important Details about Conclusions	43	(8)
Important Details about Premises	51	(9)
The Principle of Charity in Argument Interpretation	60	(8)
Chapter Summary	64	(1)
Review of Terms Introduced	65	(1)
Notes	66	(2)
When Is an Argument a Good One?	68	(32)
The ARG Conditions	68	(3)
More on the (R) and (G) Conditions: Reasoning from Premises to Conclusions	71	(4)
Using the ARG Conditions to Evaluate Arguments	75	(6)
The Significance of Argument Evaluation	81	(4)
The Challenge of Argument	85	(7)
Evaluating Arguments and Constructing Your Own Arguments	92	(2)
The Dialectical Context	94	(6)
Chapter Summary	96	(1)
Review of Terms Introduced	97	(2)
Notes	99	(1)
Looking at Language	100	(38)
Definitions	103	(13)
Further Features of Language	116	(10)
Clarity and Audience: The Problem of Jargon	126	(12)
Chapter Summary	133	(1)
Review of Terms Introduced	134	(2)
Notes	136	(2)
Premises: What to Accept and Why	138	(36)
The Dilemma of Premises	138	(2)
When Premises Are Acceptable	140	(14)
Summary of Acceptability Conditions	154	(2)
When Premises Are Unacceptable	156	(9)
Summary of Unacceptability Conditions	165	(9)
Chapter Summary	169	(1)
Review of Terms Introduced	170	(2)
Notes	172	(2)
Working on Relevance	174	(41)
Characteristics of Relevance	174	(3)
Some Ways of Being Relevant	177	(4)
Irrelevance: Some General Comments	181	(6)
Fallacies Involving Irrelevance	187	(16)
Irrelevance, Missing Premises, and Argument Criticism	203	(5)
Emotional Appeals, Irrelevance, and Distraction	208	(7)
Chapter Summary	211	(1)
Review of Terms Introduced	211	(2)
Notes	213	(2)
Deductions: Categorical Logic	215	(38)
Deductive Relations	215	(3)
Four Categorical Forms	218	(2)
Natural Language and Categorical Form	220	(5)
Venn Diagrams	225	(2)
Rules of Immediate Inference	227	(6)
Contrary and Contradictory Predicates and False Dichotomies	233	(2)
Categorical Logic: Some Philosophical Background	235	(3)
The Categorical Syllogism	238	(6)
The Rules of the Categorical Syllogism	244	(2)
Applying Categorical Logic	246	(7)
Chapter Summary	249	(1)
Review of Terms Introduced	250	(2)
Notes	252	(1)
Deductively Valid Arguments: Propositional Logic	253	(45)
Definition of the Basic Symbols Used in Propositional Logic	254	(5)
Testing for Validity by the Truth Table Technique	259	(3)
The Shorter Truth Table Technique	262	(4)
Translating from English into Propositional Logic	266	(10)
Further Points about Translation	276	(9)
Simple Proofs in Propositional Logic	285	(7)
Propositional Logic and Cogent Arguments	292	(6)
Chapter Summary	294	(1)
Review of Terms Introduced	295	(2)
Notes	297	(1)
An Introduction to Inductive Arguments	298	(52)
Philosophical Background	298	(3)
Inductive Generalizations	301	(12)
Causal Inductive Arguments	313	(5)
Correlations	318	(6)
Problems with Premises	324	(10)
Common Fallacies in Inductive Arguments	334	(10)
Different Senses of Inductive	344	(6)
Chapter Summary	345	(1)
Review of Terms Introduced	346	(2)
Notes	348	(2)
Analogies: Reasoning from Case to Case	350	(42)
The Nature and Functions of Analogy	350	(2)
Analogy and Consistency	352	(15)
Inductive Analogies	367	(8)
Further Critical Strategies	375	(3)
Loose and Misleading Analogies	378	(14)
Chapter Summary	389	(1)
Review of Terms Introduced	389	(1)
Notes	390	(2)
Conductive Arguments and Counterconsiderations	392	(21)
Counterconsiderations	395	(18)
Chapter Summary	410	(1)
Review of Terms Introduced	410	(1)
Notes	411	(2)
Reflective Analysis of Longer Works	413	(24)
Introduction	413	(1)
Reading for Understanding	414	(4)
Reading for Appraisal	418	(2)
Developing an Outline for Your Essay	420	(5)
A Sample Essay	425	(5)
Working through an Example	430	(7)
Chapter Summary	434	(1)
Review of Terms Introduced	435	(1)
Note	436	(1)
Appendix A A Summary of Fallacies	437	(9)
Appendix B Selected Essays for Analysis	446	(12)
``How Patriarchy Becomes Santa Claus: Why a Myth Is as Good as Its Smile,''	446	(2)
Janet D. Sisson
``Abortion and Violence,''	448	(1)
Henry Morgentaler
``Believing in the Goddess?''	449	(4)
Trudy Govier
``Clash Over Climate Change: Singer Article Clouds the Picture,''	453	(2)
Andrew Weaver
``Global Warming Proof Still Suspect,''	455	(3)
S. Fred Singer
Answers to Selected Exercises	458	(26)
Index	484