Questions tagged [argumentation]
The construction, deconstruction and presentation of arguments for a position;
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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 ...
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How to make this argument valid?
If Peter is virtuous, he manages a household with patience.
If Peter is to be good, he needs patience.
Here's my attempt to understand 1 and 2. I get confused by the wording and necessity-sufficiency ...
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Checking the validity of an argument
Is the following argument valid?
If A is to be good, they must be just
If B is to be good, they must be just
Therefore, if C is to be good, they must be just
Therefore, if C is just, they become good
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Formal proof in choosing between two competing assertions regarding fraudulent/honest claims?
Please provide formal proof (or near enough, according to ability) for your decision as to which of the following two assertions is correct:
"Even if a claim is arrived at fraudulently, that ...
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Is "sometimes necessary" valid in necessity and sufficiency
I recently learned about this concept and in discussing with a peer, I was wondering, is it ever right to say "x is sometimes necessary but not sufficient for y to be the case". In my mind I ...
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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 ...
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How to tell pseudo-experts from real ones (in an unfamiliar field)?
How does one discern who are experts in a field that is unfamiliar to him/her?
How does one discern the pseudo experts (those seem to be experts but are not in reality) in an unfamiliar field?
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Is demanding an ureasonable and unrealistic amount of sources a logical fallacy?
Let's suppose the following:
Person 1: All scientists agree that the sun is real.
Person 2: Oh yeah, why don't you list every single scientists as proof?
Here's another example:
Person 1: Humanoid ...
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To discern whether a specific opinion is true, is it important to engage in discussions with holders of that opinion?
To discern whether a specific opinion is true, is it important to engage in discussions with those who hold that opinion?
In what cases it is, and in what cases it is not? What is the demarcation line?...
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Deductively valid arguments and situations
In book 'Logic: A Very Short Introduction', Graham Priest has quote about deductively valid arguments.
Here is one problem. Assuming that the account is correct, to know
that an inference is ...
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What is the solution to the paradox of the pile and the heap for consciousness?
There is a paradox where you can keep adding a grain of sand to a pile. Eventually it becomes a heap. I don't really see it as a paradox. Now think about how the brain does things and thinks in ...
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Why isn't this an argument?
This argument was in Critical Thinking by Moore and Parker.
I think God exists, because I was raised a Baptist.
The book states that this wasn't an argument because it just stated a reason for why ...
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What is the distinguishing factor between conviction and threat?
What is the distinguishing factor between conviction and threat?
I want my friend to restrain from doing an action. I am showing him the bad consequences of the action thus, I am trying to convince ...
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Structure of "affirming the consequent fallacy"
The formal structure of affirming the consequent fallacy is,
P1 - If A is true, then B is true
P2 - B is true
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C - Therefore, A is true
Now if I give another similar ...
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What fallacy would be appropriate?
Someone claimed,
If cigarette is the cause of cancer, then why someone who is non smoker got cancer?
I think there are multiple fallacies we can point for this claim, i.e.
Hasty generalization
Non ...
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How does one call an argument where the premises do not necessarily lead to the conclusion?
Repeating the question from the title
Question. How does one call an argument where premises do not necessarily lead to a conclusion?
By "not necessarily lead to a conclusion", I mean that ...
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Some logical fallacies can be called inductive arguments
I feel like a lot of "logical fallacies", if called out, can just be labelled by the opponent as inductive reasoning. For example:
"candidates didn't know the air conditioner didn't ...
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Is it a voluntary action (and therefore something one is responsible for) to remain alive?
Creating a life is (normally) a perfectly voluntary action with well known consequences, and hence the people involved are morally responsible for the result. But, what are the arguments for that the ...
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What are some arguments against insulting being illegal
Yesterday I had a conversation with my friend, and the topic about insulting being illegal (=> fined or even up to 1 year prison) came up (Germany). He was arguing that it is good to punish those ...
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Restricting the sets of people we can include in an argument about NBA and WNBA players
Right now I'm having an argument about NBA vs. WNBA players with someone and I'm trying to figure out where the disconnect is happening. My friend started the argument by saying, essentially, that the ...
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What makes an argument objectively more "compelling"?
If person A gives an argument to person B in order to convince them about the truth of claim X, how can B determine how compelling A's argument is in a way that is as objective as possible (i.e. in a ...
user48437
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"Let this sentence be false."
Oftentimes in arguments, we introduce sentences (or propositions?) via prescriptions like, "Let it be that..." or, "Assume that..." or so on. How would we introduce the liar ...
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What is the difference between "satisfaction" and "verification"?
In Chalmers paper, "consciousness and its place in nature", he makes the following statement:
We can say that if W (world) considered as actual makes S (a statement) true, then W verifies S....
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Why bother with anything else besides Aristotle's syllogistic logic?
Disclaimer: this a "devil's advocate's question", meaning I know a lot of the answer, but for the sake of playing the Q&A game, I won't self-answer right away. The main reason I'm ...
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"You're not X, but... that says a lot". Is this a fallacy?
I've seen this happen quite a lot in arguments about sensitive topics, such as racism, sexism or homophobia.
When presenting a potentially controversial stance, someone might cushion the blow by ...
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Does logic have to work out despite the subject? [closed]
I have a disagreement with someone about the logic of an argument. He says the statement "if it doesn't affect you, then you shouldn't care about it" is not an invitation to substitute "...
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What are the differences between an argument and a syllogism?
What are the differences between an argument and a syllogism?
Along with definitions and usages, I would like examples to understand the differences.
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What is this logical fallacy? (Nothing new under the sun?)
It has been two decades since I took a reason and argument course in college. I am rusty on my command of logical fallacies. With that preface, I have been trying to locate a logical fallacy that ...
user50027
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Is this a 'Post hoc ergo propter hoc' Fallacy?
Is this a Post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy?
'The most intense lightning storm ever recorded was followed by many numerous
Bushfires; the lightning must have caused them.'
and why?
Thanks for any ...
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Structure of a deductive argument
I wonder if this is true for all deductive arguments,
a deductive argument must have at least one premise where the term
"ALL" or "NONE" or an equivalent word appears
Is it true? ...