What is a Good Argument?: The Truth Condition

Summary

In this tutorial, the speaker critiques the traditional truth condition of arguments, emphasizing its limitations when evaluating claims across different historical contexts. Using the example of the Earth's rotation, they illustrate how beliefs shaped by background knowledge can lead to what were once considered good arguments, even if they are now deemed false. To enhance understanding, the speaker proposes a modified truth condition based on the plausibility of premises for a given audience, asserting that persuasive power relies on subjective belief rather than objective truth. This nuanced approach recognizes the complexity of real-world argumentation.

Takeaways

• 😀 The truth condition is essential for evaluating the quality of arguments, requiring all premises to be true.
• 😀 Real-world argumentation needs a modified truth condition that considers the audience's beliefs and assumptions.
• 😀 A claim's plausibility is relative to the audience, meaning it must be accepted by them to be effective.
• 😀 Historical beliefs, such as the medieval view of the Earth's immobility, illustrate how context influences perceived truth.
• 😀 Arguments deemed good in one era may be judged poorly in another due to shifts in knowledge and understanding.
• 😀 The modification emphasizes that premises must be plausible to the target audience for arguments to be persuasive.
• 😀 Using 'truth condition' terminology remains for familiarity, despite it representing a 'plausibility condition.'
• 😀 The objective truth of a premise does not guarantee its persuasive power; audience perception is key.
• 😀 Beliefs can be objectively true or false, but that does not affect how arguments are received in practice.
• 😀 Understanding the subjective nature of plausibility can enhance our evaluation of arguments in everyday discourse.

Q & A

What is the truth condition in the context of arguments?

The truth condition is defined as a necessary condition for an argument to be good, meaning that all premises of the argument must be true.

Why is the truth condition problematic when considering historical contexts?

The truth condition is problematic because it does not account for the beliefs and assumptions of specific audiences, as seen in the case of medieval beliefs about the Earth's movement.

How would a medieval audience have judged the claim that the Earth rotates on its axis?

A medieval audience would have judged that claim as false, as their understanding of the universe was based on the belief that the Earth is fixed at the center.

What modification to the truth condition is proposed in the tutorial?

The proposed modification is to redefine the truth condition as a plausibility condition, which takes into account whether the audience believes they have good reason to accept the premises.

What does it mean for a claim to be plausible for a given audience?

A claim is plausible for a given audience if they are willing to accept it as a premise and do not challenge its truth based on their beliefs and background knowledge.

What role does audience belief play in the success of an argument?

The persuasive power of an argument is determined by the subjective plausibility of its premises for the audience, rather than the objective truth of those premises.

How does the speaker intend to use the term 'truth condition' moving forward?

The speaker will continue to use the term 'truth condition' for convenience, even though it is more accurately a plausibility condition.

What objection do some students raise about the modified truth condition?

Some students object that the modification redefines truth into something purely relative and subjective, denying the existence of objective truth.

What clarification does the speaker provide regarding objective truth?

The speaker clarifies that while premises can be objectively true or false, the success of an argument depends on the audience's subjective perception of those premises.

Why is it important to consider the background beliefs of an audience when evaluating arguments?

Considering the background beliefs of an audience is important because it influences whether the premises of an argument will be accepted as plausible, thus impacting the overall effectiveness of the argument.