1. Introduction to Philosophy Lecture 1-b What is Philosophy? (Part 2) By David Kelsey

2. Arguments The second major task of philosophy is making arguments. An argument: one statement is inferred from one or more other statements. –Example:

3. Inferences An inference: a statement that follows from one or more other statements.

4. Statements A statement is a proposition. A proposition is the meaning of a sentence: –Just like words have meanings, sentences have meanings.

5. Propositions The form of a proposition: –‘it is the case that…’. –Propositions are true or false.

6. Propositions & Sentences A sentence does two different things: it both expresses a proposition and asserts a proposition. The expressed proposition: –The literal meaning of the words of that sentence. –Question: What is literal meaning?

7. Expressing a proposition For a sentence to express a proposition : –is for that sentence to toss the proposition up in the air, so to speak. –It is to put the proposition up for usage. Knowing what proposition a sentence expresses is often quite easy.

8. The asserted Proposition Making use of a proposition: –Just how a sentence makes use of the proposition a sentence expresses determines it’s actual or intended meaning. –The proposition asserted: the actual or intended meaning of a sentence The actual or intended meaning of a sentence: –What the speaker or writer of the sentence means when she writes or says it.

9. Miscommunication Miscommunication: –When the hearer doesn’t take the sentence to assert what the speaker intends

10. Sarcasm Other kinds of sentences: –Sarcasm: The messy roomate: –“She always takes out the trash”. –This sentence expresses: –But the sentence asserts: –Other occassions when meaning splits:

11. Arguments Again Arguments: when one proposition is inferred from one or more other propositions –Other definitions of an Argument

12. Arguments Argument: a position supported by reasons for its truth. –To take a position: –An issue: what is raised when one considers whether or not a proposition is true. There are always 2 sides to an issue

13. Issues Issues: –we might go as far as to say that an issue just is a question. –Intelligent life: –Safety belt law: –Mac vs. Pc:

14. Arguments & Positions Arguments & Positions: so when we take a position on an issue and support it with reasons we have given an argument. –Intelligent life: –Safety Belt law: –Mac vs. Pc:

15. Conclusions & Premises Arguments: –The conclusion of an argument: –The premises of an argument: –Examples: Socrates again April Showers

16. What an argument isn’t What an argument isn’t: Let us be a bit clearer about what an argument is by stating what it isn’t. –Not a Fight: –Not Persuasion: Advertisement example:

17. Persuasion Persuasion vs. Argument: –An argument offers support for some claim, its conclusion. –Persuasion needn’t offer any support for a point. Not Logic: It merely attempts to get you to believe a point. –This attempt needn’t be one through logic though. Persuasion through rhetoric: Rhetoric: is “a broad category of linguistic techniques people use when their primary objective is to influence beliefs and attitudes and behavior”

18. Arguments vs. Explanations Arguments vs. Explanations: –Explanation of X: If one gives an explanation about some thing X, one gives some details about X with the hope of coming to better understand X. Example: fixing a flat tire

19. Recognizing Arguments Conclusion Indicators: find the conclusion of an argument by looking for conclusion indicators. –Examples of Conclusion Indicators: therefore, hence, and others Premise Indicators: find the premises of an argument by looking for premise indicators –Examples of Premise Indicators: because, since, and others.

20. Explicit Premises Explicit premises: –asserted by the words of the text.

21. Implicit Premises Implicit or unstated premises: –Not made explicit by the text so must be inferred from the words of the text –Are entailed by the words of the text. –Bloodhound example: Moore’s dog is a bloodhound, so it has a keen sense of smell What is the implicit premise?