Questions tagged [argumentation]
The construction, deconstruction and presentation of arguments for a position;
550
questions
10
votes
9
answers
3k
views
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 ...
11
votes
6
answers
2k
views
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 ...
-1
votes
4
answers
104
views
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.
...
20
votes
10
answers
2k
views
Orderings in Philosophy
First of all, I’m a mathematician, not a philosopher, so I apologize in advance for any oversights or if my question maybe isn’t too relevant in philosophy.
When reading popular philosophical content, ...
6
votes
3
answers
257
views
What is an argument (in philosophy)?
Closely related (sub)question: is there some way to tell a piece of (spoken, or writen, or...) text that is an argument from one that isn't? If 'yes', how?
[Notice the question is not asking "...
0
votes
1
answer
126
views
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 ...
0
votes
1
answer
101
views
Explain what the simplicity in this argument is based on
Other people have minds because it is the best explanation for other people's behavior because the existence of other minds is a simpler and more understandable explanation:
It does not make me ...
1
vote
2
answers
92
views
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 ...
4
votes
6
answers
458
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 ...
1
vote
1
answer
41
views
What are the main terms and their (relatively) proper definitions that a beginner in metaphysics/philosophy should know of?
I've recently come across many intelligent individuals in the field of metaphysics. Their intellectual prowess impressed me; since their field of expertise informs all other fields, they demonstrated ...
1
vote
1
answer
157
views
How to teach people hypothetical 'what if' scenarios and how to deal with them
Some people can't think of any hypothetical 'what if' situations. They always ask for real life examples. Real life example don't always match with hypothetical scenarios. Then the conversation gets ...
9
votes
11
answers
4k
views
Is there a name for the widespread logical fallacy in which you prove your point by 'eliminating' anyone who contradicts you?
I've encountered this relentlessly in my life. You offer proof that someone is wrong, or even simply state something more obvious than the sun that they don't like, they ban you or do something else ...
3
votes
3
answers
147
views
Doubts about common sense through recourse to an alleged authority
Given is following dialog:
A: So you deny that the sun will rise again tomorrow?
B: No, I just say we do not know for sure. There are other variants.
A: What other variants are there?
B: What do I ...
19
votes
19
answers
4k
views
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 ...
2
votes
1
answer
69
views
Precise definition of valid argument using model theory
In philosophy 101, I learned that a valid argument is any argument that satisfies this property: if all of its premises are true, then its conclusion must hold true.
Now, I am taking a class on ...
14
votes
11
answers
1k
views
Should reducing and simplifying explanations be a core aspect of Philosophical practice?
I'm an Engineer, and a Computer Programmer. But I repeat myself... For me, my life and breath is getting to the bottom of complex things and rendering an explanation or instantiation (for programs) ...
1
vote
1
answer
62
views
A question on contrapositives and predicates
So I am a freshman taking an intro class to logic. And the question started off from a class exercise we've got which asked us to identify the covering generalization for the following conditional ...
3
votes
3
answers
153
views
Do arguments arising from probability convincingly argue a mass human extinction event in the near future? [closed]
One such argument is the Doomsday argument which is taken seriously by a number of academics. But more simply, if we look at the modern population trajectory, it's something of an exponential curve. ...
16
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Is there a name for the argumentative tactic where you play dumb and ask for extreme simplification?
My day job is research in economics. In economics seminar culture, a common way to demolish the speaker is to play dumb and say "I don't understand what you are saying", implying that the ...
3
votes
5
answers
253
views
How strong is the argument for quantum mind theory?
I know little about philosophy and I've been reading into consciousness. From an uneducated view, David Pearce's argument seems strong.
https://www.biointelligence-explosion.com/parable.html
What ...
-2
votes
2
answers
140
views
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 ...
0
votes
0
answers
65
views
What kind of rhetorical device is 'splaining?
It is quite common for people to respond to an issue or question with the first thing that comes to mind, framed as a convincing explanation. When it appears to be a self-serving or unwarranted ...
2
votes
1
answer
60
views
Are transcendental and indispensability arguments reciprocally structured?
This question occurred to me in the course of addressing a recent question about what counts as evidence in philosophy. There, I offered that transcendental arguments are structurally akin to ...
5
votes
6
answers
655
views
What constitutes evidence in philosophy?
I have noticed an apparent confusion when posing and answering questions as to what constitutes evidence in philosophy. Especially in scientifically-related areas, I often cite scientific evidence ...
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Do some philosophical questions tend to entertain vacuous ideas?
Empty, inane, devoid of value. This is a dictionary definition of the word "vacuous". Are vacuous ideas worthy of consideration? I mean no offence, but I fail to see the sensible intent ...
0
votes
4
answers
210
views
Is reason under challenge? [closed]
I find the resurgence in the new century of pseudoscience, religious extremism, and irrationalism disturbing. Reason was pre-eminent throughout the previous two centuries. Is reason being seriously ...
3
votes
9
answers
3k
views
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 ...
1
vote
1
answer
188
views
Should proofs of God involve the infinitary language ℒ(∞,∞)?
If God is an infinite being (per Scotus, say), and if no finite number of steps in an argument is adequate to the scope of the divine majesty, then the strictures of monadic theism aside (God as a ...
3
votes
2
answers
317
views
The Likelyhood Principle and Baysean Statistics
I am reading Kotzen's paper Selection Bias in Likelihood Arguments.
The author takes the following principle as a starting point:
I'm confused as to how to formalize this notion in terms of Bayesian ...
2
votes
0
answers
60
views
How to best develop writing and argumentation skills on a philosophy self-study track?
I am about to embark on a journey of Philosophy self-study. I have a curriculum I want to pursue, covering all majour branches of philosophy. I also have a reading list which includes set texts, text ...