************ * today (and Friday) - Chapter 7, SUMMARIZING arguments * then: Chapter 15 - Science and Pseudoscience Chapter 5 - Logical Fallacies I Chapter 6 - Logical Fallacies I *********** * we've discussed and demo'd DIAGRAMMING arguments; NOW we're on the SUMMARIZING arguments! * summarizing involves two ADDITIONAL skills of argument analysis that we didn't get into in argument diagramming: * paraphrasing * finding "missing" premises and conclusions ======== * paraphrasing ======== * in general: a restatement of something using different words and phrases; in argument analysis: in particular, restating an argument in a more STANDARDIZED, EASIER-to-ANALYZE format * can include identifying and separating out the premise(s) and conclusion, can include restating the argument in simpler terms; * a GOOD paraphrase: * accurate * clear * concise * charitable * more on ACCURATE: * is FAITHFUL to the author's intended meaning, reproduces that meaning fairly, without bias or distortion * more on CLEAR: * we want to make the argument EASIER to understand by our summaries and analysis, not harder...! * (still being accurate, of course) * more on CONCISE: * a good paraphrase should capture the ESSENCE of an argument; * (but remembering that conciseness should NOT override accuracy and clarity...!) * more on CHARITABLE: * when a passage can be interpreted more than one way, the PRINCIPLE of CHARITY requires that we interpret the passage as charitably as the evidence reasonably permits * don't interpret the argument to make it easier to attack... ============ * finding "missing" premises and conclusions ============ * in real life, people often leave parts of their arguments unstated; * might be a premise, might be the conclusion! * maybe it is considered obvious, maybe an ad line is considered more effective without it, maybe the arguer is wanting to conceal a weak or questionable step in their argument...! * FUN NEW WORD of the DAY: ENTHYMEME * an argument with a MISSING premise or conclusion * two BASIC rules for filling in the missing parts of an enthymeme: 1. FAITHFULLY interpret the arguer's intentions * the missing piece is a genuine part of the argument ONLY if it was implicitly understood to be part of the argument by the arguer themself; * question to ask: "What else must the arguer assume -- that they are not saying -- to reach their conclusion?" 2. be charitable ************ we'll summarize longer arguments using STANDARDIZATION ************ * which will use the skills of paraphrasing and filling in missing parts in enthymemes! * STANDARDIZATION is restating an argument in STANDARD LOGICAL FORM * an argument is in STANDARD LOGICAL FORM when: * each step in the (restated) argument is numbered consecutively * premises are stated ABOVE the conclusions they are claimed to support * justifications are provided for each conclusion in the argument * for each conclusion or subconclusion, indicate in PARENTHESES which previous steps that conclusion or subconclusion is claimed to follow from * here are the steps to OBTAIN this form: 1. read through the argument, try to identify its main conclusion * then go back through the argument and identify major premises and subconclusions offered in support of that main conclusion * paraphrase as needed to clarify meaning 2. omit any unnecessary or irrelevant material 3. number the steps in the argument, and stack them in "correct" logical order (e.g., premises, then conclusion) 4. fill in any missing key premises or conclusions * place BRACKETS [ ] around implied statements to indicate that you added them 5. add parenthetical justifications for each conclusion/subconclusion * that is, for each conclusion or sub-conclusion, indicate in parentheses from WHICH previous lines in the argument that conclusion/sub-conclusion is claimed to directly follow