Critical Thinking #6: Implicit Premises

Summary

This script explores the concept of suppressed premises in arguments, using the example of Barack Obama's presidential terms to illustrate how an implicit premise can be crucial for a conclusion. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing and justifying controversial or questionable premises to avoid fallacies. The video also promotes Brilliant, an online learning platform that fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills in philosophy, math, and science.

Takeaways

• 📝 Arguments often have suppressed premises that are assumed to be true but not explicitly stated.
• 🇺🇸 The example given is about Barack Obama serving two terms as president, implying a suppressed premise about term limits for U.S. presidents.
• 🚫 It's acceptable to leave a premise suppressed if it's universally accepted and known to the audience.
• 💡 The importance of recognizing implicit premises in arguments, especially when they are controversial or questionable.
• ❗️ The responsibility of the person making the argument to justify a controversial implied premise.
• 🤔 The potential for implicit premises to create fallacies in reasoning.
• 🌐 The transcript promotes 'brilliant.org', an online learning community for philosophy, math, and science.
• 📚 'Brilliant' offers interactive problem-solving and lessons on logic, reasoning, and more.
• 🔗 The video description contains a link to 'brilliant.org/criticalthinking' for a special offer.
• 💰 The first 200 visitors using the link get a 20% discount on an annual Premium Membership.
• 🎓 The platform encourages building connections with subjects by interacting with other learners.

Q & A

What is a suppressed premise in an argument?

A suppressed premise is an assumption that is necessary to reach a conclusion but is not explicitly stated in the argument. It is considered implicit and often assumed to be true by the person making the argument.

Why is it important to recognize suppressed premises in an argument?

Recognizing suppressed premises is important because they can be controversial or questionable, and if not addressed, they may lead to fallacies or flawed reasoning. It's crucial for clear and logical argumentation.

What is an example of a suppressed premise given in the script?

The example given is that Barack Obama served two terms as president, and the suppressed premise needed to conclude that he was not eligible for re-election in 2016 is the law that prohibits presidents from serving more than two terms.

Under what conditions is it acceptable to leave a premise suppressed in an argument?

A premise can be left suppressed if it is universally accepted and if the audience already has the knowledge of that premise. It should be common knowledge that does not require further explanation.

What is the conclusion of the argument about Barack Obama's eligibility for re-election?

The conclusion is that at the end of Obama's second term, he was not eligible for re-election in 2016.

What is the second argument presented in the script, and what is its suppressed premise?

The second argument is for the continuation of the war on drugs to reduce deaths caused by drug addiction. The suppressed premise is that the war on drugs effectively reduces such deaths, which is controversial.

Why might the person making an argument have a responsibility to justify a suppressed premise?

The person making the argument has a responsibility to justify a suppressed premise if it is controversial or not obvious to the audience, to ensure the argument is valid and persuasive.

What is the role of the online learning community 'Brilliant' as mentioned in the script?

Brilliant is an online learning community where users can improve their skills in philosophy, math, and science. It offers interactive problem-solving and learning experiences with a focus on critical thinking and logic.

What kind of lessons can one expect to find on Brilliant.org as per the script?

On Brilliant.org, one can expect immersive lessons on problem-solving, logic, multi-level thinking, deductive reasoning, and more, with the opportunity to interact with other learners and educators.

What special offer is mentioned in the script for the first 200 people visiting a specific link?

The first 200 people visiting 'brilliant.org/criticalthinking' will receive a 20% discount on an annual Premium Membership.

How can one sign up for free on Brilliant.org as mentioned in the script?

To sign up for free on Brilliant.org, one can go to 'brilliant.org/criticalthinking', as mentioned in the script with a link provided in the description under the video.