After all, philosophy addresses questions that can t be answered using standard empirical methods and questions that can t be answered using standard empirical methods are always the most interesting. Besides, philosophy addresses the most interesting questions that there are. Therefore, studying philosophy is a worthwhile endeavor. And and similar expressions (like moreover, furthermore, but, and however ) often, but not always, indicate that two ideas are dependent reasons.ĥ 5 5) Since philosophy cultivates the use of reason, studying philosophy helps us to excel in many other areas. Notice, too, how and tells us that the two ideas are added. Notice how the reason indicator expression After all helps us to identify the inference in this argument, and notice how as with the previous argument it shows us that the reasons follow the conclusion in the passage.
Philosophy addresses the most interesting questions that there are. + Questions that can t be answered using standard empirical methods are always the most interesting. Philosophy addresses questions that can t be answered using standard empirical methods. B AĤ 4 4) Philosophy addresses the most interesting questions that there are. A B A therefore B is., but A because B is. (If you look at the previous two arguments, you ll see that the narrative order of the ideas was identical to the logical order of the ideas, because in both passages, the statement of the reason for the conclusion preceded the statement of the conclusion.) It s important to remember that reason indicator expressions like because and since can switch the order like this. We might say that the narrative order of the ideas in the passage a conclusion followed by the reason - is the reverse of the the logical order of these ideas a reason followed by conclusion. The passage first state the conclusion and then states the reason for the conclusion. Notice also that, due to the placement of because in this passage, the reason for the conclusion follows the conclusion. Notice how the reason indicator expression because helps us to identify the inference in this argument. Studying philosophy is a worthwhile endeavor.
Notice how the reason indicator expression since helps us to identify the inference in this argument.ģ 3 3) Studying philosophy is a worthwhile endeavor because philosophy addresses the most interesting questions that there are. Notice how the conclusion indicator expression therefore helps us to identify the inference in this argument.Ģ 2 2) Since philosophy cultivates the use of reason, studying philosophy helps us to excel in many other areas. Studying philosophy helps us to excel in many other areas. 1) Studying philosophy helps us to excel in many other areas. If a passage does contain an argument, diagram it. Philosophy Directions: For each of the following passages, determine whether or not it contains an argument. In order to prevent inadvertent peeking at upcoming diagrams, I ve put only one argument on each page of this answer booklet. 1 1 CRITICAL THINKING: THE VERY BASICS - ANSWERS Dona Warren, Philosophy Department, The University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Argument Recognition, Analysis, and Evaluation I ve highlighted important parts of some arguments and my diagrams and comments are in blue.