REMINDER!!! ------------ * 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 ----------- A LITTLE MORE REVIEW: ----------- * 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 ----------- NEWLY-ADDED BIT!!! ----------- * a few more RULES for standard logical form: * Write in complete sentences only! * Only 1 statement per (numbered) line! * Leave out non-statements! (note that statements in those devices such as rhetorical questions should be re-written to be more recognizably a statement) * Include only premises, sub-conclusions, and the conclusion ************ EXAMPLE 1 ************ -------- "We can see something only after it has happened. Future events, however, have not yet happened. So, seeing a future event seems to imply both that it has and has not happened, and that's logically impossible." -------- * and in class, we tried to walk through the standardization process, ending up with the standardized form: -------- 1. We can see something only after it has happened. 2. Future events have not yet happened. 3. So, seeing a future event seems to imply both that it has and has not happened. (from 1 and 2) 4. It is logically impossible for an event to have happened and not to have happened. 5. [Therefore, it is logically impossible to see a future event.] (from 3 and 4) --------