Week 12, Post 2
One of the reasoning that I was having difficulty understanding was reasoning by analogy. At first, I did not understand how a comparison of two or more sides or things will make any premises in an argument true or valid. However, after doing some research, I came across a site that went in depth explaining what reasoning by analogy is and how it is presented in an argument. I learned that reasoning by analogy is a form of inductive reasoning and it has a logical relationship used to compare two similar things to each other. Looking at the similarities will show either related or unique characteristics. With the results after analyzing, we can determine if we made valid analytical comparisons. In an argument, it is not necessary for two things to be common for the premises or conclusion to be true. It is possible to have an argument plausible because one thing differs from the other.
http://www4.samford.edu/schools/netlaw/dh2/logic/analogy.htm
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Different Types of Reasoning
Week 12, Post 1
1. Reasoning by Analogy
The process of using comparisons of two or more sides of reasoning to conclude the end result.
Riding a train is like riding on Bart.
2. Sign Reasoning
Two or more things in an argument that are relatively related or similar or an absence of one indicates the presence of another.
When there is a puddle in the middle of the room, there's a leak on the roof.
3. Casual Reasoning
There is a good reasoning to believe that there is an activity of some sort (cause) is followed by another activity (effect).
Drinking milk (cause) gives you strong bones (effect).
4. Reasoning by Criteria
In an argument, one usually analyze and make judgments before making the best decision.
White bed sheets are better than green sheets because it matches with more things.
5. Reasoning by Example
In an argument, an example is used as support for good reasoning.
Boys love toy trucks. My nephew only plays with his toy trucks.
6. Inductive
Inductive reasoning are based on previous observations or experiences that are used for premises in arguments.
Oprah starts at 4:00pm on Mondays through Fridays.
Therefore, Oprah will start at 4:00pm on Monday.
7. Deductive
If the premises are valid then the conclusion must also be true.
Last time someone changed the light bulb was a year ago.
The room is still dark after numerous attempts turning on and off the light switch.
Therefore, the light bulb burned out.
1. Reasoning by Analogy
The process of using comparisons of two or more sides of reasoning to conclude the end result.
Riding a train is like riding on Bart.
2. Sign Reasoning
Two or more things in an argument that are relatively related or similar or an absence of one indicates the presence of another.
When there is a puddle in the middle of the room, there's a leak on the roof.
3. Casual Reasoning
There is a good reasoning to believe that there is an activity of some sort (cause) is followed by another activity (effect).
Drinking milk (cause) gives you strong bones (effect).
4. Reasoning by Criteria
In an argument, one usually analyze and make judgments before making the best decision.
White bed sheets are better than green sheets because it matches with more things.
5. Reasoning by Example
In an argument, an example is used as support for good reasoning.
Boys love toy trucks. My nephew only plays with his toy trucks.
6. Inductive
Inductive reasoning are based on previous observations or experiences that are used for premises in arguments.
Oprah starts at 4:00pm on Mondays through Fridays.
Therefore, Oprah will start at 4:00pm on Monday.
7. Deductive
If the premises are valid then the conclusion must also be true.
Last time someone changed the light bulb was a year ago.
The room is still dark after numerous attempts turning on and off the light switch.
Therefore, the light bulb burned out.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
An appeal to Spite
Week 11, Post 3
In chapter 10, Too Much Emotions, the definition of an appeal to spite is the hope of revenge, is invariably rejected as bad by some people on moral grounds. An appeal to spite occurs when a person's honor is more important than lending a helping hand. Usually, one's action is not reciprocated and is acceptable in his or her own culture.
Alex: Are you moving out of the apartment by yourself?
Monica: Yes, can you help me move my furniture out of my apartment?
Alex: Yeah, of course.
Melanie: (discreetly) Why are you helping her move? She did not help you paint your walls last month.
The argument is Alex should not help Monica move her furniture because she did not help him paint. Her action was not reciprocated therefore, Alex does not have to help her as well. It was not even even exchange although Alex was not out for revenge, Melanie thought it was unfair. The premise is Alex should not help anyone who is not willing to help him out.
In chapter 10, Too Much Emotions, the definition of an appeal to spite is the hope of revenge, is invariably rejected as bad by some people on moral grounds. An appeal to spite occurs when a person's honor is more important than lending a helping hand. Usually, one's action is not reciprocated and is acceptable in his or her own culture.
Alex: Are you moving out of the apartment by yourself?
Monica: Yes, can you help me move my furniture out of my apartment?
Alex: Yeah, of course.
Melanie: (discreetly) Why are you helping her move? She did not help you paint your walls last month.
The argument is Alex should not help Monica move her furniture because she did not help him paint. Her action was not reciprocated therefore, Alex does not have to help her as well. It was not even even exchange although Alex was not out for revenge, Melanie thought it was unfair. The premise is Alex should not help anyone who is not willing to help him out.
Appeal to Fear
Week 11, Post 2
3. Find an advertisement that uses an appeal to fear. Is it a good argument?
The advertisement wants to prevent teenage girls from getting pregnancy at a young age. I think this is a good argument because the text below the three female figures is alarming. The text presents the statistics reading that currently in the United States 1 in 3 teenage girls will get pregnant by the age of 19 which is considered high. The picture shows 3 female figures and one of them is shaded in a light pink allowing the viewers to see the ratio. This advertisement shows appeal to fear because it wants to create awareness and increase an alarm of terror. This picture wanted to scare girls so they will either be abstinent or be careful an use protection. Imagining it on a bigger scale, if there were 300 teenage girls, out of that 100 of them are pregnant. Most of them will just graduate high school and are not ready to take care of herself let alone another human being.
3. Find an advertisement that uses an appeal to fear. Is it a good argument?
The advertisement wants to prevent teenage girls from getting pregnancy at a young age. I think this is a good argument because the text below the three female figures is alarming. The text presents the statistics reading that currently in the United States 1 in 3 teenage girls will get pregnant by the age of 19 which is considered high. The picture shows 3 female figures and one of them is shaded in a light pink allowing the viewers to see the ratio. This advertisement shows appeal to fear because it wants to create awareness and increase an alarm of terror. This picture wanted to scare girls so they will either be abstinent or be careful an use protection. Imagining it on a bigger scale, if there were 300 teenage girls, out of that 100 of them are pregnant. Most of them will just graduate high school and are not ready to take care of herself let alone another human being.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Appeals to Emotion
Week 11, Post 1
In an argument, an appeal to emotion is when a premise is expressing what a person should believe or feel in a certain way.
A feel-good argument appeals to me the most because it can be applied to all types of situations we go through in our lives. A feel-good argument occurs when we want to feel good about ourselves. There is a desire to see the positivity within ourselves. We want to be convinced that there is self-importance and how we perceive our own self has more value and respect.
An example of a feel-good argument is:
Paul is on a diet, part of his diet plan is to go on a daily run every morning and to eat healthy. Eating healthy means no sugar and no dark meat. However, one day after his jog, Paul wanted to eat a donut and said, "I deserve a donut, I have been following his diet for a while and one donut won't hurt."
In an argument, an appeal to emotion is when a premise is expressing what a person should believe or feel in a certain way.
A feel-good argument appeals to me the most because it can be applied to all types of situations we go through in our lives. A feel-good argument occurs when we want to feel good about ourselves. There is a desire to see the positivity within ourselves. We want to be convinced that there is self-importance and how we perceive our own self has more value and respect.
An example of a feel-good argument is:
Paul is on a diet, part of his diet plan is to go on a daily run every morning and to eat healthy. Eating healthy means no sugar and no dark meat. However, one day after his jog, Paul wanted to eat a donut and said, "I deserve a donut, I have been following his diet for a while and one donut won't hurt."
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Reasoning in a Chain and the Slippery Slope
Week 9, Post 3
While reading the book, I stumbled upon "reasoning in a chain and the slipper slope," which is located in chapter 6 (Compound Claims) of the book. The definition of a slippery slope argument provided by the book says, "A slippery slope argument is a bad argument that uses a chain of conditionals, at least one of which is false or dubious." I didn't quite understand how one simple premise could turn an argument into a slippery slope. However, after researching online, I came across a website that explains the slippery slope argument in depth.
http://www.garlikov.com/philosophy/slope.htm
I learned that if the guidelines are not followed, an argument with a false premise turns into a slippery slope. If one premise is not true, then the whole argument is useless and invalid. When one argument is false then it becomes a chain reaction occurs because the other premises are also invalid and it goes down a slippery slope. The "camel's nose in the tent," the "give and inch," the "crack in the foundation" are also names for the "slippery slope" argument.
While reading the book, I stumbled upon "reasoning in a chain and the slipper slope," which is located in chapter 6 (Compound Claims) of the book. The definition of a slippery slope argument provided by the book says, "A slippery slope argument is a bad argument that uses a chain of conditionals, at least one of which is false or dubious." I didn't quite understand how one simple premise could turn an argument into a slippery slope. However, after researching online, I came across a website that explains the slippery slope argument in depth.
http://www.garlikov.com/philosophy/slope.htm
I learned that if the guidelines are not followed, an argument with a false premise turns into a slippery slope. If one premise is not true, then the whole argument is useless and invalid. When one argument is false then it becomes a chain reaction occurs because the other premises are also invalid and it goes down a slippery slope. The "camel's nose in the tent," the "give and inch," the "crack in the foundation" are also names for the "slippery slope" argument.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Major Course Assignment
Week 9, Post 2
Assignment #1, Critical Thinking in News and Politics," was very useful because it allowed us to use the materials we learned in this class and apply it to a real article. Each member was assigned a part in the paper. Doing so, I only focused on my assigned section which made it easier for me to fully understand what I had to do. I thought that by breaking down each component of the essay, it showed us how we were able to focus on the premises and the conclusion of the argument in the article. My role in assignment #1 was to find a "description" and define the difference between an argument and the description in the article. After concentrating on my part of the assignment, it gave me a better understanding of what occurs in articles and how the author writes can persuade the readers. I was able to see the difference between what is factual and what a premise is.
Assignment #1, Critical Thinking in News and Politics," was very useful because it allowed us to use the materials we learned in this class and apply it to a real article. Each member was assigned a part in the paper. Doing so, I only focused on my assigned section which made it easier for me to fully understand what I had to do. I thought that by breaking down each component of the essay, it showed us how we were able to focus on the premises and the conclusion of the argument in the article. My role in assignment #1 was to find a "description" and define the difference between an argument and the description in the article. After concentrating on my part of the assignment, it gave me a better understanding of what occurs in articles and how the author writes can persuade the readers. I was able to see the difference between what is factual and what a premise is.
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