All Questions
Tagged with argumentation epistemology
30
questions
10
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9
answers
3k
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How well does the following argument work as a counter towards unfalsifiable supernatural claims?
Human perception is solely naturalistic; as such, empiricism and logic generated by human perception and interpretation of reality is strictly naturalistic as well.
Absence of evidence is not evidence ...
- 109
11
votes
6
answers
2k
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Is it a "shifting of the burden of proof" if I show evidence in favor of a position, and ask the audience to debate that evidence if they disagree?
As far as I know, the "fallacy of shifting the burden of proof" is to refuse to show any evidence for my position, demanding the opponent to show evidence against my position, and claiming ...
- 384
-1
votes
4
answers
105
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How does Bias affect the reliability of a process?
So my attempt is to define a process and test it on its reliability.
In a discussion, an argument was made that a consensus on the reliability of the process is needed for a process to be reliable.
...
- 239
0
votes
1
answer
127
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Give advice on justifying belief in the existence of other minds [duplicate]
Solipsism has the fewest entities (only my mind) and therefore it is the most minimal explanation.
Does that make it more likely than the existence of other minds? Because other minds offer billions ...
- 569
1
vote
2
answers
93
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What type of reasoning is this? Abduction, inference to the best explanation, induction?
My mind is responsible for my behavior.
Other people are very similar to me biologically.
Other people have behaviors similar to mine.
Possible explanations:
Solipsism says that my mind created other ...
- 569
4
votes
6
answers
459
views
Is the principle of uniformity of nature an abduction or an analogy?
Is the principle of uniformity of nature an abduction or an analogy?
To what type of reasoning does the principle of uniformity of nature belong? Is it abduction, analogy, deduction?
Here they refer ...
- 569
19
votes
19
answers
4k
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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 ...
- 1,281
-2
votes
2
answers
140
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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 ...
- 2,341
3
votes
9
answers
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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 ...
- 2,341
1
vote
2
answers
129
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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 ...
- 569
1
vote
2
answers
218
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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 ...
4
votes
2
answers
227
views
Are retorsion arguments in epistemology generally problematic?
An retorsion argument consists in pointing out how a claim is self-defeating.
Of course, I accept that there are sound arguments of this type that don't misrepresent the original position. But they ...
- 4,841
1
vote
1
answer
130
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Is this statement convincing and good? [closed]
There is the following wording:
If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck.
What type of argument is this?
If we use this argument in favor of the existence ...
17
votes
8
answers
6k
views
Is it fallacious to argue that something is correct, of good quality, or acceptable because a community of experts has established it as such?
Earlier today, I asked a programming question on a forum. I phrased the question as "What is the best way to do x?" Someone responded with something to the effect of, "the best way is ...
- 297
3
votes
15
answers
2k
views
Proof for the absence of free will?
EDIT (17/08/2022): I have answered this question with an evolution of the argument. See accepted answer below.
There are a number of arguments which aim to prove the impossibility of free will.
The ...
- 4,439
1
vote
2
answers
496
views
Hume's induction using circularity fallacy
Hello everyone, i was going through this reading of a book in which it present Hume's induction wrong using circularity . I was trying to find some error in it as given there but could not pinpoint ...
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
250
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How would Descartes, Socrates, Hume and Popper respond to psychopathic gaslighting? [closed]
Let's say Descartes, Socrates, Hume, and Popper were up against a psychopath who tried to abuse their minds with gaslighting techniques to win an argument. They would meet the psychopath one by one ...
2
votes
1
answer
105
views
Difference between theory revision and ad hoc proposals?
What is the difference between revising a theory and creating an ad hoc explanation to save your theory? Furthermore, at what point is one forced to give up their original theory because it conflicts ...
- 296
0
votes
0
answers
45
views
Set of all hidden assumptions in a statement
Imagine a person "A" who says to a person "B" the following statement: "It is true that the house in front of me has three windows". If you think about it, this statement is true for a person "B" only ...
- 355
3
votes
9
answers
601
views
How can we decide which view to accept concerning our ultimate justification of our knowledge (Münchhausen trilemma)?
I recently came across the Münchhausen trilemma, which I think helps to explain my question. Basically, according to the trilemma, we have three options for explaining the ultimate justification of ...
- 296
0
votes
4
answers
440
views
Is there any way disputes over a knowledge claim due to different interpretations of data can be resolved?
I'm quite stumped as to how to answer the question because it would be rather difficult to correct the interpretations of others...
- 43
5
votes
2
answers
156
views
What is the epistemic justification for hearsay?
In the United States, Donald Trump's election has been all the rage, and his Tweets and public declarations have received much attention, especially those that accuse CNN and the "liberal media" in ...
4
votes
5
answers
199
views
Concepts with inexistant definitions but for which our common intuition is enough for practical usage
There are some concept that most people (if not sometimes all people) fail to accurately define - eventually because the concept does not match a natural category - however we all have a good enough ...
- 1,113
0
votes
1
answer
45
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Distinction between claim based on quantified versus subjective
Is there a term that defines the distinction between a claim based on measurements versus claim based on subjective "guess"?
Specifically, in s/w development I can estimate ("make a claim") the cost ...
- 127
1
vote
2
answers
71
views
To Check or not to Check? [closed]
Samuel and Paul make a wager. They want to know if a certain professor held class the day prior when they were absent. The professor is unreachable, though, so they have to ask students from class. If ...
-1
votes
2
answers
137
views
Can you teach something you don't know? [closed]
Is it possible to teach something you don't know?
- 9
11
votes
6
answers
3k
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What practical methods can be used to prove a negative claim?
I realize that the burden of proof falls squarely on the shoulders of the person making the claim, but they often seem unwilling to do the footwork.
It is difficult to prove a negative case except by ...
- 213
3
votes
2
answers
329
views
Could 'ought' be defined as sentimentalism?
The traditional definition of ought is "moral obligation" as defined by multiple online dictionaries. Some authors, like Harris, have defined ought as maximizing expected well being (a fancy way of ...
- 181
6
votes
2
answers
3k
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How does one differentiate epistemological and ontological claims?
I'm taking an introductory philosophy course and I find it fascinating. I can't really figure out an assignment though because I'm a bit foggy on what the difference between ontological and ...
- 61
7
votes
5
answers
563
views
How can I solve my contradictory thoughts about the relevance of human knowledge?
I have been thinking about how much we can know and more importantly: which knowledge should be relevant to us? First I will explain my thoughts to you. They will end in a questionable conclusion for ...
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