Presentation 2a: Identifying Statements and Arguments

Summary

This lecture introduces the concept of arguments and statements in reasoning. It explains that an argument is a set of statements where the premises support the conclusion. The lecture teaches how to distinguish statements from other expressions using the 'It is true that' test and identifies premise and conclusion indicators, such as 'because' and 'therefore', which signal parts of an argument. It also provides an exercise to practice identifying these components in a given argument.

Takeaways

• 💬 Arguments consist of statements, one of which is the conclusion, supported by the premises.
• 🔍 The difference between statements and other expressions (interrogatives and imperatives) is that only statements assert that something is the case.
• 📝 Statements are also called declarative sentences, and they are the building blocks of arguments.
• 📜 An argument’s purpose is to provide reasons for accepting a conclusion, rather than just stating it.
• 🧠 Premises and conclusions can be identified using specific words and phrases known as 'premise and conclusion indicators.'
• 🛠 Words like 'because,' 'since,' and 'for' are common premise indicators, while 'therefore,' 'so,' and 'hence' often signal conclusions.
• ⚠️ Some indicator words, like 'since,' can be used in non-argumentative contexts, making it important to interpret their function in context.
• ✅ A simple test for identifying statements is to append 'It is true that' to see if the result is grammatical.
• 📊 Premise and conclusion indicators help recognize when an argument is being presented and which statements play which roles.
• 🎓 Example exercise: In 'People who study hard will pass. Isabelle studies hard, so she will pass,' the conclusion is 'Isabelle will pass,' indicated by the word 'so.'

Q & A

What is the main focus of lecture 2a?

The main focus of lecture 2a is on identifying statements and arguments, explaining what they are, and how to analyze them.

What is an argument according to the lecture?

An argument is a set of statements where one statement (the conclusion) is supposed to be supported by the others (the premises).

How does the lecture illustrate the concept of an argument?

The lecture uses the example of three statements: 'It’s raining', 'If it’s raining, then it is wet outside', and 'So, it is wet outside', where the first two statements are meant to support the last one.

What is the purpose of arguments as explained in the lecture?

The purpose of arguments is to provide reasons for accepting a conclusion, not just telling someone what to believe but also why they should believe it.

What is a statement as defined in the lecture?

A statement is a sentence or part of a sentence that asserts something is the case, also known as a declarative sentence.

How can you test if an expression is a statement according to the lecture?

You can test if an expression is a statement by appending 'It is true that' to the beginning of it and checking if the result is grammatical.

What are the three types of sentences or parts of sentences mentioned in the lecture?

The three types of sentences or parts of sentences mentioned are declarative sentences (statements), interrogative sentences (questions), and imperative sentences (commands).

What is the role of statements in arguments?

Statements play the roles of premises and conclusions in arguments, as they are what an argument aims to convince someone of and what it takes for granted.

What are premise and conclusion indicators?

Premise and conclusion indicators are words and phrases that suggest whether a statement is a premise or conclusion in an argument.

Can you provide an example of a premise indicator from the lecture?

An example of a premise indicator is 'because', 'since', 'for', 'after all', etc.

Can you provide an example of a conclusion indicator from the lecture?

An example of a conclusion indicator is 'therefore', 'so', 'thus', 'hence', etc.

How does the lecture suggest identifying arguments in practice?

The lecture suggests identifying arguments by looking for premise and conclusion indicators and understanding whether some statements are intended to support others.