13.5: Spotting Arguments
- Page ID
- 199354
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Spotting Arguments
There are a number of words that authors and speakers use to indicate that they are making an argument. We will call these words indicator words, since they typically indicate the presence of an argument. Some words and phrases, like ‘since’, ‘because’, ‘for’, ‘on account of’, and ‘given that…’, specifically indicate the presence of a premise.
Ex. 4:
There is no way the Spartans will make the playoffs this year, since they are 6 games back with less than two weeks to go.
Ex. 5:
Given the suspect’s blood/alcohol level at the time of the accident, it is clear that she was driving over the legal limit.
Other words and phrases specifically indicate the presence of an argument’s conclusion: ‘thus’, ‘therefore’, ‘hence’, ‘so’, ‘consequently’.
Ex. 6:
Malik doesn’t have any brothers or sisters; hence he is an only child.
Ex. 7:
The number 8 is even; consequently, it is not a prime number.
We need to keep two qualifications in mind. First, these brief lists include the most common indicator words, but there are many ways that authors and speakers can indicate the presence of an argument without using these terms.; Thus, we cannot merely memorize the terms above and be done with it. Second, unfortunately indicator words do not always indicate the presence of an argument. Consider the following:
Ex. 8:
The marching band hasn’t gotten anything less than a #1 at contest since 2015.
In this case, the term ‘since’ is being used to refer to time, not to a premise. Given that indicator words are not 100% reliable as indications of argumentation, we cannot infer that we have an argument merely because one of our indicator words shows up. As we will see, we need to pay attention to the contexts in which these words are used.
One obstacle to spotting arguments has to do with opinions. Suppose somebody says “teens really shouldn’t be watching R-rated movies, since for the most part they are not mature enough to handle the psychological and emotional effects of mature content.” Is this an argument? Many people are tempted to say ‘no’—this is just an opinion. Some people conflate items that are controversial, debatable, or uncertain as being outside the realm of logic and reasoning.
We need to be aware, however, that whether a statement is controversial or debatable is not relevant to whether there is an argument present. Recall that anytime a speaker or author gives a reason to believe a conclusion, they have given an argument—regardless whether anything the author has said or written is controversial, uncertain, or debatable. In the example above, the speaker uses the word ‘since’ to indicate the presence of a premise, and consequently, the presence of an argument. So: whether somebody’s claim is an opinion won’t tell us anything about whether they have offered an argument. In fact, often controversial, uncertain, and debatable claims are precisely the sort of thing that people offer arguments for!