Questions tagged [argumentation]

The construction, deconstruction and presentation of arguments for a position;

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
9 votes
11 answers
3k views

Is there a name for the widespread logical fallacy in which you prove your point by 'eliminating' anyone who contradicts you?

I've encountered this relentlessly in my life. You offer proof that someone is wrong, or even simply state something more obvious than the sun that they don't like, they ban you or do something else ...
user8600's user avatar
  • 259
3 votes
3 answers
145 views

Doubts about common sense through recourse to an alleged authority

Given is following dialog: A: So you deny that the sun will rise again tomorrow? B: No, I just say we do not know for sure. There are other variants. A: What other variants are there? B: What do I ...
granular_bastard's user avatar
19 votes
19 answers
4k views

If philosophy is based on reason and rationality, then why is there so much disagreement?

If philosophy is based on reason and rationality, then why is there so much disagreement? Is it due primarily to operating with different premises absent consensus on their truth, so that dissenters ...
Just Some Old Man's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
66 views

Precise definition of valid argument using model theory

In philosophy 101, I learned that a valid argument is any argument that satisfies this property: if all of its premises are true, then its conclusion must hold true. Now, I am taking a class on ...
Jimmy Yang's user avatar
13 votes
11 answers
1k views

Should reducing and simplifying explanations be a core aspect of Philosophical practice?

I'm an Engineer, and a Computer Programmer. But I repeat myself... For me, my life and breath is getting to the bottom of complex things and rendering an explanation or instantiation (for programs) ...
Scott Rowe's user avatar
  • 1,150
1 vote
1 answer
58 views

A question on contrapositives and predicates

So I am a freshman taking an intro class to logic. And the question started off from a class exercise we've got which asked us to identify the covering generalization for the following conditional ...
Alex Li's user avatar
  • 19
3 votes
3 answers
148 views

Do arguments arising from probability convincingly argue a mass human extinction event in the near future? [closed]

One such argument is the Doomsday argument which is taken seriously by a number of academics. But more simply, if we look at the modern population trajectory, it's something of an exponential curve. ...
yters's user avatar
  • 1,867
16 votes
5 answers
5k views

Is there a name for the argumentative tactic where you play dumb and ask for extreme simplification?

My day job is research in economics. In economics seminar culture, a common way to demolish the speaker is to play dumb and say "I don't understand what you are saying", implying that the ...
kmf's user avatar
  • 169
1 vote
4 answers
199 views

How strong is the argument for quantum mind theory?

I know little about philosophy and I've been reading into consciousness. From an uneducated view, David Pearce's argument seems strong. https://www.biointelligence-explosion.com/parable.html What ...
Terra's user avatar
  • 11
-2 votes
2 answers
131 views

What is a philosophical proposition?

There seems to be confusion on this exchange as to what constitutes a proposition in philosophy. This seems to extend to the burden of proof. The classical burden of proof is "onus probandi ...
Meanach's user avatar
  • 2,325
0 votes
0 answers
59 views

What kind of rhetorical device is 'splaining?

It is quite common for people to respond to an issue or question with the first thing that comes to mind, framed as a convincing explanation. When it appears to be a self-serving or unwarranted ...
Scott Rowe's user avatar
  • 1,150
2 votes
1 answer
56 views

Are transcendental and indispensability arguments reciprocally structured?

This question occurred to me in the course of addressing a recent question about what counts as evidence in philosophy. There, I offered that transcendental arguments are structurally akin to ...
Kristian Berry's user avatar
5 votes
6 answers
551 views

What constitutes evidence in philosophy?

I have noticed an apparent confusion when posing and answering questions as to what constitutes evidence in philosophy. Especially in scientifically-related areas, I often cite scientific evidence ...
Meanach's user avatar
  • 2,325
6 votes
3 answers
1k views

Do some philosophical questions tend to entertain vacuous ideas?

Empty, inane, devoid of value. This is a dictionary definition of the word "vacuous". Are vacuous ideas worthy of consideration? I mean no offence, but I fail to see the sensible intent ...
Meanach's user avatar
  • 2,325
0 votes
4 answers
208 views

Is reason under challenge? [closed]

I find the resurgence in the new century of pseudoscience, religious extremism, and irrationalism disturbing. Reason was pre-eminent throughout the previous two centuries. Is reason being seriously ...
Meanach's user avatar
  • 2,325
3 votes
9 answers
3k views

What is the burden of proof? Has this principle ever been challenged?

I have been surprised to find that some people doubt this principle. Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat - the burden of proof lies with the speaker, not with the one who negates. I ...
Meanach's user avatar
  • 2,325
1 vote
1 answer
178 views

Should proofs of God involve the infinitary language ℒ(∞,∞)?

If God is an infinite being (per Scotus, say), and if no finite number of steps in an argument is adequate to the scope of the divine majesty, then the strictures of monadic theism aside (God as a ...
Kristian Berry's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
310 views

The Likelyhood Principle and Baysean Statistics

I am reading Kotzen's paper Selection Bias in Likelihood Arguments. The author takes the following principle as a starting point: I'm confused as to how to formalize this notion in terms of Bayesian ...
Mani's user avatar
  • 203
2 votes
0 answers
53 views

How to best develop writing and argumentation skills on a philosophy self-study track?

I am about to embark on a journey of Philosophy self-study. I have a curriculum I want to pursue, covering all majour branches of philosophy. I also have a reading list which includes set texts, text ...
Stas Medvedev's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
69 views

Examples of situations where explaining the situation destabilizes the mind [closed]

Could someone please provide, using logic, or some other reasoning or portrayal, an example of a situation where explaining the situation destabilizes the mind? Thank you.
Joselin Jocklingson's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
68 views

Argument analysis question

A simple question for those familiar with argument analysis / formalization. Can you elaborate and explain what is going on in the following two arguments? They appear to lead to opposing conclusions ...
butterfliesfloat530's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
109 views

What is the justification of a complex dilemma?

7.8 The Dilemma in Copi's Introduction to Logic says: Complex dilemma: An argument consisting of (a) a disjunction, (b) two conditional premises linked by a conjunction, and (c) a conclusion that ...
Tim's user avatar
  • 479
1 vote
0 answers
56 views

How should an argument containing an exceptive proposition be tested?

IX. Exceptive Propositions in 7.3 Translating Categorical Propositions into Standard Form in Copi's Introduction to Logic says: Because exceptive propositions are not categorical propositions but ...
Tim's user avatar
  • 479
3 votes
1 answer
91 views

Word-Pairing Rhetorical Tactic

I am looking for a name referring to a rhetoric/propaganda tactic in which words are paired together to change perceptions? For example, if I said, "a controversial speaker is giving a lecture at ...
Jason Esposito's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
92 views

For what kind of P is "if P were the case, I would know that P" true?

Consider arguments of the following form for some proposition P: If P were the case, I would know that P. But I don't know that P. Therefore, it is not the case that P. I am wondering what kind of ...
Jimmy Yang's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
158 views

Model of an argument

I have the thought that an informal argument is fundamentally about building a justification graph: a directed acyclic graph from premise propositions to intermediate and conclusion propositions, ...
causative's user avatar
  • 12.2k
3 votes
5 answers
2k views

Is the Law of Excluded Middle an allowed argument in court?

Is the Law of Excluded Middle a valid deduction rule in court? If not, is it reasonable to say that all arguments in court must be "constructive in nature"? As an example, consider this ...
CatProgrammer's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
127 views

Why is Occam’s razor faulted for being a heuristic when almost everything in philosophy is?

I am confused as to why any sort of discussion about Occam’s Razor, without fail, has the addendum mentioning how the tool doesn’t prove anything. But quite literally, unless something is logically ...
thinkingman's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
90 views

Is the argument by analogy logically consistent?

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/other-minds/#ArguAnal I'm a bit confused by the criticism here. That is, this argument has no problems with logical sequence and if the premises are correct, then ...
Arti's user avatar
  • 157
1 vote
6 answers
176 views

What is the fallacy called where "Nothing a liar said can be true?"

What is the fallacy called where "Nothing a liar said can be true" (i.e., "false in most things, false in everything")? For example, consider that 99% of something someone said is ...
Cody Kentucky's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
88 views

Type of false reasoning?

I don't have extensive background in philosophy but I try to outline my question clearly. I am arguing with a person who always uses the same logic. We have an outcome X such a medical disease ...
arkiaamu's user avatar
  • 121
0 votes
0 answers
64 views

Is this argument about computers and consciousness logically valid?

Assume 1) You can make a conscious agent consisting of a robot controlled by some computer; 2) There are no zombies 3) You replace the computer by a chinese-like room version that behaves identically. ...
Pato Galmarini's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
79 views

If moral statements aren't supposed to be reports of objective facts, does the practice of "fallacy checking" apply to moral arguments?

Maybe this is just a case of Jörgensen’s dilemma, but so I was reading the SEP article about feminist perspectives on argumentation, more specifically this passage: The difficulty some philosophers ...
Kristian Berry's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
897 views

How did Nietzsche prove his will to power?

Was Nietzsche right about the will to power? Specifically, did he (or any of his interpreters) prove (let's take Kant's system as a cut off for 'proof') that the will to power, either individually or ...
user avatar
7 votes
11 answers
1k views

If we can't be 100% sure of anything, then we have to believe everything with a grain of salt?

If we can't be 100% sure of anything, then we should trust everything with mistrust and suspicion? For example, the existence of other minds, the existence of the outside world, etc. is currently ...
Arnold's user avatar
  • 141
2 votes
2 answers
170 views

What does the IBE argument (the best explanation argument) look like in favor of the existence of other minds?

I have read several versions of the IBE argument for the existence of other minds. But I got a little confused. Now I'm not sure I know what it should sound like. How should the IBE argument (argument ...
Johnny5454's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
106 views

Help to understand the use of arguments

If the arguments have the same conclusions, but the premises in one argument contradict the premises in another argument, then these arguments cannot be used together. I am right? For example I have ...
Arnold's user avatar
  • 141
2 votes
2 answers
2k views

Logical Analysis of Argument

Andrew: I think this country needs more scientists. Britney: But if everyone were scientists, then we won't have any artists! And without artists, we might as well all be robots. Is Britney's argument ...
Geyooo Oghey's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
64 views

Can I use multiple justifications for believing in the existence of other minds?

Can I use multiple justifications for believing in the existence of other minds? There are several good justifications for our belief in the existence of other minds. Theory of mind, which is part of ...
Arnold's user avatar
  • 141
1 vote
2 answers
213 views

Objection to Famine, Affluence and Morality

If you can prevent something bad from happening at the cost of something less bad, you ought to do it. The second principle, as quoted above, is the link between the seemingly obvious claim that: ...
BlueInfinite1729's user avatar
14 votes
3 answers
2k views

What is this "going to the other extreme to make it look stupid to prove something"?

I don't know why I see this so often. When I say, it may not be good to sell 35 years of your life to the corporate world in a stressful way being golden handcuffed by a high salary or stock, somebody ...
Stefanie Gauss's user avatar
6 votes
7 answers
3k views

What are philosophical arguments for the position that Intelligent Design is nothing but "Creationism in disguise"?

I would like to start this question quoting one of the comments to this answer to the question Does Intelligent Design (ID) entail an infinite regress of designers, and if so, is that problematic?. ...
Mark's user avatar
  • 3,633
2 votes
1 answer
71 views

Does an argument require an explicit statement of conclusion?

The book I'm reading Critical Thinking by Brooke Noel Moore, Richard Parker says that the following is an argument. John Montgomery has been the Eastern Baseball League’s best closer this season. ...
Santiago's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
54 views

Explain how the Phenomenal Conservatism and Common Sense Privilege arguments works to justify belief in other minds

Please explain how the Phenomenal Conservatism and Common Sense Privilege argument works to justify belief in other minds. Here it is written that it is used to justify belief in other minds, but I ...
Johnny5454's user avatar
2 votes
4 answers
108 views

Location of the sky (universe) according to Aristotle

Aristotle wrote in his Physics: The earth is in the water, the water is in the air, the air is in the ether, the ether is in the sky, and the sky is no longer in anything else. Do you agree with ...
ggk hj's user avatar
  • 121
1 vote
2 answers
199 views

If an argument cannot be known as sound, can it still be claimed as sound?

I have read the the criteria to determine if an argument is sound is if its claim is valid and its premises are true. However, what if no one can know whether or not an argument is sound because no ...
Dennis Francis Blewett's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
34 views

what do you call a logical argument between 2 people who hav personal grudges? Its opposite of Ad Hominem bt not Inverse Ad Hominem. what's it called?

If A and B already have personal grudges but keep that aside, they are discussing a subject and a conflict erupts argument. Their points are based on the subject only and nothing personal but the heat ...
Ganga Mashal's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
35 views

How does pluralism about doxastic logic work?

If person M has a concept of belief, and a logic for that concept, B1, but some other person N has concept B2, with different inference rules over the operator, then on the first-order level, does M ...
Kristian Berry's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
56 views

What is (or should be) the logical structure of a demarcation argument?

I am working on a scholarly article that attempts to define "theory" in my scholarly field, which is a social science. (My field is information systems, mainly a hybrid between information ...
Tripartio's user avatar
  • 113
-1 votes
1 answer
30 views

Analytically, what is the difference between the essay questions: "What does it mean to argue that X?", and "Is it the case that X?"

I'm trying to work out the best way to approach this (3rd year undergraduate) essay titled in the form "What does it mean to argue that X?", and I'm having difficulty expressing a case for ...
howard_roark's user avatar

1
2 3 4 5
11