How to Reason and Argue (Arguments)

Problem of the Skeptical Regress

Solutions to the problem

• Start with a premise that is unjustified
• Use an argument with a circular structure
• Use an infinite chain of arguments

Trick for dealing with the problem

• Assure the audience
• Discount objections
• Guard your claim

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Argumentative Moves

• Assuring 
• Guarding
• Discounting 

Assuring

• If a reason is not actually given, then that reason cannot be questioned
• Benefits
• Save time
• Help you avoid the skeptical regress

Types

• Authoritative 
• It cites an authority that the audience shares as an authority
• Reflexive
• Talk about yourself 
• Ex: I believe that ....
• I assure that ...
• I feel sure ...
• I held this opinion for years ...
• I've thought about it year after year
• Abusive
• Basically abuse you and call it nonsense
• Ex: Nobody but a fool would think that ...
• Everybody know this.
• It's just common sense.

Tricks

• Citation of untrustworthy authorities
• That's obvious
• It's certain
• I'm sure
• Distractions
• Dropping assurances
• Repeat a lie thousand of times until be true

Guarding

Involves making your premises weaker so that it is harder to object to them.

When you weaken a premise beyond what would otherwise be expected in the context.p

Responses

• Why did you put in the guard?
• Have you weakened the premises so much that the conclusion no longer follows?

Types

• Extent
• 
  
• Generalize a problem.
• Example:
• We need a new alcohol officer because ALL students drink too much
• Probability
• Example
• It is absolutely certain that ...
• Mental
• Example
• I believe that the President is 50 years old.
• I tend to believe that the President is 50 years old.

Discounting

1. They assert two claims
2. They contrast the two claims
3. They emphasize one of the claims

Key Words

• But
• Although
• Even if
• Even though
• Whereas
• Nevertheless
• Nonetheless
• Still

Trick of discounting Straw People

Consist in make them not see the problems with your position.

• One case would be say: 
• "I have 5 objections to respond." 
• "You might say this .... but .... "
• "You might say that .... but .... "
• "How ever you would say that"
• "You might still say that"
• "Although ..."

Another Trick

• Misuses of guarding and assuring

Another Trick named "Evaluation"

Levels of Evaluation

• General

This evaluations imply that achieve a standard that is unknown

• Good / Bad - Ex. Your vote is good for me
• Ought to - Ex. You ought to use this product
• Should / shouldn´t
• Right / Wrong

• Specifics
• Beautiful / Ugly
• Cruel / Kind
• Brave / Cowardly