Tutorial 4: Critical Reading

Inductive Arguments White swan Therefore, all swans are white. Discuss Activity G (only first paragraph).

Inductive Arguments An inductive argument consists of specific examples (the premises) that lead to a general conclusion (the claim) Regarding the black bird, we can ask: Is this a “true example” (relevant)? Is this a specific example of the general conclusion? Is this a swan? Cf. Problems with induction

Inductive Arguments Tom likes the food at Mr Prata. When I had an egg prata at Mr Prata yesterday, it was really good. The server was very friendly. The Straits Times printed a review of Mr Prata last week declaring it to have the best tissue prata in the area. Therefore, the food at Mr Prata is good.

Inductive Arguments Tom likes the food at Mr Prata. When I had an egg prata at Mr Prata yesterday, it was really good. The server was very friendly. The Straits Times printed a review of Mr Prata last week declaring it to have the tissue prata in the area. Therefore, the food at Mr Prata is good. Are the premises sufficient? Relevant?

Requirements for cogency Relevance Premises (assumed true) are relevant when they relate to the conclusion of the argument. Sufficiency Premises (assumed to be true) are considered sufficient if they provide a good representation of sample population and/or cover adequate grounds for the conclusion to be deemed as highly probable.

Inductive Arguments Tom likes the food at Mr Prata. When I had an egg prata at Mr Prata yesterday, it was really good. The server was very friendly. The Straits Times printed a review of Mr Prata last week declaring it to have the tissue prata in the area. Therefore, the food at Mr Prata is good. Are the premises sufficient? Relevant? Are the premises true/reasonable?

Inductive Argument Ernest Hemingway who is a prolific writer committed suicide. F. Scott Fitzgerald who is another prolific writer was an alcoholic. Therefore, most prolific writers suffered from depression. Are the premises true? Are they relevant examples? Are they specific examples of the general conclusion? Is the conclusion true?

Diagram this argument! Research has shown that women who have a family history of breast cancer will likely inherit the disease. Angelina Jolie’s mother and aunt have breast cancer. Therefore, Angelina Jolie is likely to have breast cancer.

Diagram this argument! Research has shown that women who have a family history of breast cancer will likely inherit the disease. Angelina Jolie’s mother and aunt have breast cancer. Therefore, Angelina Jolie is likely to have breast cancer. This argument contains an inductive argument and a deductive argument. Can you find them?

P1(C1): Research has shown that (IF) women who have a family history of breast cancer will likely (THEN) inherit the disease. (a claim based on inductive reasoning) P2: Angelina Jolie’s mother and aunt have breast cancer. (history of breast cancer) Therefore, Angelina Jolie is likely to have breast cancer.

Text Analysis Does helping...? In small groups discuss: sub-headings (if any), repeated key words, the author’s biography, source of article and any information that may help you understand the author’s purpose of writing the article. After you have scanned the article, answer the following questions: 1) What does the title tell you about the article? Can you guess the issue discussed in the article? 2) What is Peter Singer’s background? What is his purpose for writing the article?

Text Analysis Look at the first two paragraphs and the last two paragraphs. What do you think is the main claim? Discuss in a small group. Note: the main claim should have the following form: claim A because X and Y.

Text Analysis Look at the first two paragraphs and the last two paragraphs. What do you think is the main claim? Discuss in a small group. Note: the main claim should have the following form: claim A because X and Y – this is similar to a thesis statement. In a clear four paragraph essay, you might have the following structure: 1. Main claim (thesis statement) at the end of the paragraph. 2. Key argument X (topic sentence) 3. Key argument Y (topic sentence) 4. Conclusion – restate key arguments – restate main claim

Text Analysis Diagram the argument from the following paragraph from p. 2 I take these questions…values is important to me. The problem is how to do it. Deductive or Inductive? Is this a persuasive argument?

Text Analysis Diagram the argument from the following paragraph from p. 2 I take these questions…values is important to me. The problem is how to do it. Inductive This establishes his ethos (he has a reliable character).

Text Analysis Look at paragraphs 5 and 15. Write one sentence to summarize the purpose of the paragraph within the argument. 5: However, we should… 15: All the ethical...

Text Analysis Look at paragraphs 5 and 15. Write one sentence to summarize the purpose of the paragraph within the argument. Now try to identify the claim and evidence for each section. Inductive or deductive? 5: However, we should... 15: All the ethical...

Text Analysis 5: However, we should… Some development projects provide employment opportunities for the poor but at a high cost to wilderness growing palm oil in Brazil, Indonesia [implied has helped the poor and hurt the environment] growing soybeans grazing cattle Inductive or deductive?

Text Analysis 5: However, we should… Some development projects provide employment opportunities for the poor but at a high cost to wilderness growing palm oil in Brazil, Indonesia [implied has helped the poor and hurt the environment] growing soybeans grazing cattle Inductive

Text Analysis 15: All the ethical... the familiar rule that "if you broke it, you fix it" these nations bear historical responsibility for most of the greenhouse gases now in the atmosphere Q: What is unstated (implicit) in this argument?

Text Analysis 15: All the ethical... the familiar rule that "if you broke it, you fix it" these nations bear historical responsibility for most of the greenhouse gases now in the atmosphere Q: What is unstated (implicit) in this argument? A: They need to fix it.

How analyse inductive reasoning Present the premises. Present the conclusion. Structure (cogency) Are there enough examples (sufficient)? Are they representative / typical? Are they relevant examples? “Truth” Is the evidence reliable/reasonable?

Deductive Reasoning Present the premises. Present the conclusion. Explain the logic – how do the premises lead to the conclusion Is the logic valid? Evaluate the truth of the premises Valid + true premises =?

Inductive Arguments Tom likes the food at Mr Prata. When I had an egg prata at Mr Prata yesterday, it was really good. The Straits Times printed a review of Mr Prata last week declaring it to be the best restaurant in the area. Therefore, the food at Mr Prata is good.

For next time Read about seven kinds of fallacies – appeal to authority, equivocation, false analogy, false cause, false dilemma, hasty generalization and straw man Before class you need to understand these fallacies Before class each student must find a new example (not in the course materials) of his assigned fallacy. Then the student must post the fallacy in the Google Community (do not identify which fallacy it is; only post the example). Read “In Defense…” (tutorial 5). Can you summarise the article in one sentence using this structure: claim A because X and Y