SSH 105 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
Argument - Answers -a set of statements that include one premise and one conclusion
3 steps of argument analysis - Answers -Identify, Reconstruct & Evaluate
Step 1 of Argument Analysis - Answers -Identify: Is the author making an argument?
Step 2 of Argument Analysis - Answers -Reconstruct: What argument is this author
making?
Step 3 of Argument Analysis - Answers -Evaluate: Is it a strong argument?
6 ways people deal with arguments - Answers -Credulous
Contradiction
Dogmatist
Skeptic
Relativist
Rational Thinkers
credelous - Answers -Believes everything they hear.
contradiction - Answers -Believes the OPPOSITE of everything they hear.
dogmatist - Answers -Holds on to their opinion no matter what.
skeptic - Answers -Doesn't believe anything.
Relativist - Answers -Thinks (somehow) that everyone is right in some way
Rational Thinkers - Answers -- Examine arguments with a CLEAR MIND
- CHANGE THEIR MIND when the arguments call for it
- GIVE UP comfortable or popular beliefs when the arguments call for it
- GO ALONG WITH popular views when the arguments call for it
- Form beliefs on GOOD EVIDENCE (even when it is NOT perfect!)
standard form - Answers -Standardize = Simplify. How?
1. Write down the author's statement.
2. Write down the premises, numbered.
3. Write down the conclusion.
Rational Strength - Answers -Does it provide a GOOD REASON to believe in the
conclusion?
, Rhetoric Power - Answers -is it convincing?
Literary Merit - Answers -Is it original, well-written/spoken, or interesting?
3 types of sentences - Answers -Declarative, Interrogative, Imperative
Declarative Sentence - Answers -Statements
Make a claim of the world
ONLY ONE THAT CAN BE TRUE/FALSE
ARGUMENTS USE THIS for both premises & conclusions.
Imperative Sentence - Answers -Commands
Remember: like war generals
Interrogative Sentence - Answers -Questions
Remember: like interrogating a suspect.
Basic correspondence principle - Answers -Corresponds with the real world
Sentence - Answers -string of words
Proposition - Answers -thought/idea behind sentence
Truth & Argument Evolution - Answers -1. Identify premises
2. Identify propositions expressed by the premises
3. Identify if the propositions are true or false
Fallibilism - Answers -The idea that a rational belief does not equal a true belief.
Rational beliefs can be false and irrational beliefs can be true
Motivational Errors - Answers -Beliefs motivated by emotions.
Misevaluation - Answers -Thinking the evidence supports something even when it
doesn't
Not Considering the Total Evidence - Answers -Ignore, omit, forget
Rational Belief - Answers -belief supported by evidence
Irrational Belief - Answers -belief not supported by evidence
One Truth Value Principle - Answers -- a proposition/ declarative statement can be
either true or false (has only one truth value)
- cannot be neither or both
- cannot be "true for" one person and false for another
Argument - Answers -a set of statements that include one premise and one conclusion
3 steps of argument analysis - Answers -Identify, Reconstruct & Evaluate
Step 1 of Argument Analysis - Answers -Identify: Is the author making an argument?
Step 2 of Argument Analysis - Answers -Reconstruct: What argument is this author
making?
Step 3 of Argument Analysis - Answers -Evaluate: Is it a strong argument?
6 ways people deal with arguments - Answers -Credulous
Contradiction
Dogmatist
Skeptic
Relativist
Rational Thinkers
credelous - Answers -Believes everything they hear.
contradiction - Answers -Believes the OPPOSITE of everything they hear.
dogmatist - Answers -Holds on to their opinion no matter what.
skeptic - Answers -Doesn't believe anything.
Relativist - Answers -Thinks (somehow) that everyone is right in some way
Rational Thinkers - Answers -- Examine arguments with a CLEAR MIND
- CHANGE THEIR MIND when the arguments call for it
- GIVE UP comfortable or popular beliefs when the arguments call for it
- GO ALONG WITH popular views when the arguments call for it
- Form beliefs on GOOD EVIDENCE (even when it is NOT perfect!)
standard form - Answers -Standardize = Simplify. How?
1. Write down the author's statement.
2. Write down the premises, numbered.
3. Write down the conclusion.
Rational Strength - Answers -Does it provide a GOOD REASON to believe in the
conclusion?
, Rhetoric Power - Answers -is it convincing?
Literary Merit - Answers -Is it original, well-written/spoken, or interesting?
3 types of sentences - Answers -Declarative, Interrogative, Imperative
Declarative Sentence - Answers -Statements
Make a claim of the world
ONLY ONE THAT CAN BE TRUE/FALSE
ARGUMENTS USE THIS for both premises & conclusions.
Imperative Sentence - Answers -Commands
Remember: like war generals
Interrogative Sentence - Answers -Questions
Remember: like interrogating a suspect.
Basic correspondence principle - Answers -Corresponds with the real world
Sentence - Answers -string of words
Proposition - Answers -thought/idea behind sentence
Truth & Argument Evolution - Answers -1. Identify premises
2. Identify propositions expressed by the premises
3. Identify if the propositions are true or false
Fallibilism - Answers -The idea that a rational belief does not equal a true belief.
Rational beliefs can be false and irrational beliefs can be true
Motivational Errors - Answers -Beliefs motivated by emotions.
Misevaluation - Answers -Thinking the evidence supports something even when it
doesn't
Not Considering the Total Evidence - Answers -Ignore, omit, forget
Rational Belief - Answers -belief supported by evidence
Irrational Belief - Answers -belief not supported by evidence
One Truth Value Principle - Answers -- a proposition/ declarative statement can be
either true or false (has only one truth value)
- cannot be neither or both
- cannot be "true for" one person and false for another
