Our life will make more sense We will discover the truth We will avoid being lied to or used by others

1. Terms - all the words used must make sense and be used correctly We should define words as carefully as we can and agree about their meaning before we discuss To find out, we should ask “What do you mean?” 2. Premises - each reason given must be true, which means it should match reality We should write each premise as a declarative sentence with a subject and predicate

We can simplify premises into one of the four forms: 1. All S are P. 2. No S are P. 3. Some S are P. 4. Some S are not P. To find out, we should ask “What is the point being made?”

To find out, we should ask “How do you prove it?”

Proving your point.

We can gain knowledge beyond our experience based on what we do know. All objects with great mass emit a gravitational pull, certain dark areas of the universal emit a gravitational pull, therefore these dark areas (black holes) must have mass.

“All human babies come from human mothers.”

The sum of all interior angles in a triangle is 180 degrees.

The premises are the evidence, reasons, or proof for an argument. The conclusion is what the argument is trying to prove.

Before the premises: Because Since For As If Follows from For the reason that Therefore Hence It follows that Consequently Which shows that So Then Before the conclusion:

An explanation simply gives the cause of something. An explanation does not try to prove anything, but only states what is the case.

Validity

1. Conclusions that do not follow. “It’s raining today, and I’m sad today, so the rain must make me sad.” 2. Assuming the conclusion before it is proven. “The accused will be given a fair trial before we execute him.” 3. Expecting a simple answer to a complex question. “Are you dumber today than you were yesterday?” 4. Arguing in a circle. “How do I know there’s a God?” “The Bible says so.” “How can I trust the Bible.” “Because God says it’s true.” 5. Contradicting yourself. “I will not tolerate intolerance!”

1. Claiming to refute an argument by refuting its conclusion. 2. Claiming that refuting an argument refutes its conclusion. 3. Ignoring an argument or answering a different argument. 4. Giving an explanation instead of proof. 5. Being cruel to our opponents in debate.