Claims

Arguments consist of a sequence of claims. A claim is an assertion, and usually takes the form of a statment. Claims may be divided roughly into those that state facts and those that express opinions.

Allegation - A claim made without complete proof thats often blaming or accusing.
Example
Tom broke the window.

Causal Explanation - A claim about why something happened.
Example
Dinasaurs became extinct because of a natural disaster.

Definition - A claim about the meaning of a word or phrase.
Example
Hypothesis is a well considered theory which needs some testing.

Hypothesis - A well considered theory which needs some testing.
Example
In a memory test between girls and boys, boys will remember less.

Prediction - A claim that something will happen in the future.
Example
It will rain tomorrow.

Recommendation - A claim about something which should be done.
Example
Smoking should be banned.

Statement of Principle - A general claim expressing a basic rule, a truth or a guideline.
Example
No one should take the law into their own hands.

Value Judgement - A claim about something being good or bad, right or wrong, desirable or indesirable.
Example
Smoking is a disgusting habit.

Glossary

Critical Thinking Critical Terms!

A
Argument - an opinion backed up by at least one good reason
Asserting a claim - stating a point of view that may not necessarily be backed up/agreed with

C
Conclusion - opinion drawn from the reason(s)
Counter argument - offer an alternative opinion with good reason and grounds

D
Dialogue - a discussion/discourse between 2 or more people
Dispute - disagreement

E
Explanation - telling you what the case is, not trying to convince you of the cause

I
Inference - describes how conclusions are drawn from the premises

P
Premise - a reason, the grounds of an argument

R
Reasoning indicators - linking words/phrases
Example
Therefore, so and because
Refutaion - rejection of an argument

S
Synonym - different words with the same meaning
Example
premise and reason

Is Your Mind On Vacation?

Is Your Mind On Vacation?

This was just a fun, sometimes irratating quiz we did at the beginning of th year to get us acustomed to irratating pieces of text.

1) There is four errers in this centence. Can you count them?

2) Advertising slogan on toothbrush: 'The toothbrush that lceans'. Buy this toothbrush?

3) 'Iraq has the fourth biggest army in the world.' A reason for war?

4) 'It must be true, I checked and it's in all the papers.' A reason to believe something?

5) 'Paris in the the spring.' So good it was worth identifying twice?

6) Coke is the real thing?

7) Would you trust this man?
'He is an admitted sexagenarian, regularly reads phonographic material, he has pedagogic inclinations and once tried to interest a thirteen year old girl in philately, he has advocated social intercourse in mixed company, and has been known to engage in incense with his family.'

8) Read the following sentence:
'Final Folios seem to result from years of dutiful study of texts along with years of scientific experience.'
Now count how many F's there are, reading only once more through the sentence.

9) War with Iraq is inevitable, after Spetember 11th we can't do nothing.

10) There is no such thing as truth - it's all a matter of opinion.
True or false?

Answers are in the 'Comments' section

Fallicies - Part A

A fallacy is a mistake, and in terms of Critical Thinking (or other argumentative subjects) a logical fallacy is a mistake in reasoning. There are many different types of fallacies, and we come across and use them all the time. As there are so many fallacies, I've decided to post them in stages. So today - Part A! Also included at the bottom of the list are useful links.

A
Ad Hominem Attack - Where a claim or argument is rejected on the basis of some irrelevant fact about the author of or the person presenting the claim of the argument./Claiming that supposed inadequacies of a person are good grounds for rejecting their point of view.
Example
A: I believe abortion is morally wrong
B: You're a Christian, you have to think that!
(Just because A is a Christian, does not mean her argument should be discredited.)

Dr M opposed the 24 hour opening for pubs because it would encourage drunkenness, but he is a binge drinker, which discredits his argument.
(Just because Dr M is a binge drinker, this does not discredit his argument - it may discredit him, but not his argument.)

Ad Hominem Tu Quoque - When it is concluded that a person's claim is false because of prior things said or done by that person.
Example
A: I think that, based on the arguments I have presented, it is morally wrong to use animals for clothing.
B: But you are wearing a leather jacket - how can you say that it is wrong to use animals for clothing?
(Yes, while A is being hypocritical, they may not be any less right about using animals for clothing - think about whether or not you believe in testing on animals, and try to think of an argument against it. If you don't, then take a look at the medical drugs you have taken in your life, or the make-up you wear. Most, if not all, drugs are tested on animals, and a vast majority of make-up is too. Think your argument should be discredited?)

Affirming the Consequent - Thinking that because of one event, that the second even is caused.
Example
If it is raining, the streets will be wet.
The streets are wet.
Therefore it is raining
(There may be various reasons why the streets are wet. And while yes, 99.9 times out of 100 if it's raining, the streets will be wet. But what if someone was washing their car? Streets would be wet then. Is it raining?)

Appeal to Ignorance - An argument for or against a proposition on the basis of a lack of evidence against or for it.
Example
There is no evidence that Mrs Smith crashed her car on purpose. Therefore, it was an accident.

Appeal to the Mob - Someone claims a statement should be believed because many people accept the truth of it.
Example
Most motorists claim they would rather have cars than cheap buses. Therefore the government should start to limit the amount of buses on our roads.
(Just because an argument has 'most motorists' in it, doesn't mean that there are only 1 or 2 people using buses.)

All women use Hairclean shampoo everyday!
(This is probably not going to be true. But it makes you think that perhaps Hairclean is the best shampoo around, and therefore want to buy it - clever advertising!)

Useful links:-

http://www.fallacyfiles.org/ - This is a complete website, full of in-depth information and working examples.

http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/index.html#index - A simpler site, with less information than the one above, but it has easy to read definitions and examples.