We will learn the basics of argument, about organizing an argument in a debate, about how to support an argument, review argument fallacies and then talk about how to refute an argument.
MAKING A GOOD ARGUMENT
ARGUMENT IS:
Claim one thing of another and have a reason.
TYPES OF ARGUMENTS AND ERRORS TO AVOID:
1. Induction: generalities gained from specifics.
a. Are the facts true?
b. Real examples only
c. Representative examples
d. Number of examples
e. Period of time
f. Negative examples
g. Conclusion improperly stated
2. Deduction: determine specifics with application of generalities
a. Categorical deduction
i. Not true of all in category
ii. Not in that category
iii. Conclusion improperly stated
b. Disjunctive deduction - or
i. Not just two choices
ii. Can do both
iii. Affirm the rejected
iv. Reject the affirmed
c. Hypothetical deduction – Causal reasoning
i. Does cause have the means or power
ii. Is cause significant or insignificant
iii. Other causes
iv. Original or contributing cause
v. Counteractive causes
vi. Coincidence and causality
HOW TO PRESENT ARGUMENTS
1. Basics of a single argument
a. Assertion
b. Reasoning
c. Evidence
2. Major arguments need more
a. Title
b. Thesis and explanation
c. Steps
d. Impact
3. Types of major arguments
a. Mechanical – causal reasoning - step by step until impact
b. Organic: principle
i. Name
ii. Explanation thesis
iii. Concept in general
iv. Concept as applied to this motion
v. Why it is important
c. Stakeholder
i. Title
ii. Thesis
iii. Stakeholders reviewed
iv. Impact
HOW TO SUPPORT ARGUMENTS
1. Current examples
2. Historical examples
3. Expert opinion
4. Quotation
5. Statistic
6. Empirical study
7. Analogy and comparison
8. Narrative
9. Personal testimony
10. Visualization
FALLACIES
List compiled by A.C. Snider
1. Hasty Generalization
2. Transfer fallacies:
-a. fallacy of composition: true of part is true of whole
-b- fallacy of division: true of whole is true of part
-c. fallacy of refutation : straw person
3. Irrelevant arguments - non sequiturs, does not follow.
4. Circular reasoning: conclusion is restatement of claim.
5. Avoiding the issue
-a. evasion
-b. attack the person
-c. shifts in ground
-d. seizing a trivial point - red herring
6. False dichotomy - bring lunch OR walk to school.
7. Appeal to ignorance - failure to disprove is not proof. UFOs.
8. Appeal to the crowd - bandwagon effect
9. Appeal to emotions - no substitute for reasoning
10. appeal to authority - no substitute for reasoning
11. Appeal to tradition - no substitute for reasoning
12. Appeal to humor - no substitute for reasoning
13. Ambiguity & equivocation - different use of words, change meaning.
14. Technical jargon.
15. Post hoc fallacy.
16. Damning the origin
17. Wishful thinking
18. Lip service
19. Personification
20. Cultural bias
21. Pointing to another wrong
22. Nothing but objections
23. Demand for perfection.
REFUTATION: ONLY REFUTE THEIR BEST ARGUMENTS, NOT THEIR WEAK ONES. REFUTING WEAK ARGUMENTS IS A WASTE OF TIME.
FOUR STEP REFUTATION PROCESS
1. YOU SAY
2. WE DISAGREE
3. BECAUSE
4. THEREFORE
DIFFERENT WAYS TO REFUTE:
HERE IS ANOTHER ARGUMENT THAT PROVES THE OPPOSITE.
YOUR PROOF OF THE ARGUMENT IS INSUFFICIENT.
YOUR ARGUMENT IS NOT SO IMPORTANT:
- Outweighed by costs
- Getting smaller all the time
- People do not care
- Small number
- Each instance is small
- Tiny part of greater whole
- Voluntary risk
- Can be reversed
- Highly improbable
Adventures in Argumentation
Reviewed by Unknown
on
September 14, 2011
Rating:
Reviewed by Unknown
on
September 14, 2011
Rating:
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