valid and invalid forms of general claims

The second part of Epstein’s chapter 8 deals with some of the valid and invalid forms in regards to general claims. I found this part of the chapter to be extremely helpful as I am a very kinesthetic learner. The visuals and diagrams allowed me to follow along with what Epstein was saying and better understand it. One thing I found extremely helpful was the idea of diagrams, since they allow you to get involved with a claim and draw out what the premises are and thus allow you to see if the claim really is valid or whether it is a claim that is not strong enough to be valid. Epstein also talked about reasoning in a chain an direct ways of reasoning as well as arguing backwards. Again all of these had visuals way of understanding the ideas and make the information that Epstein was talking about easier to understand.

chapter 8

In chapter 8 Epstein talks a lot about the general claims that we often make in everyday life. These claims often seem valid and premises may be true yet some of the facts are not always present and available, therefore it can be hard to see if the statement is valid. Epstein also mentions that there are multiple ways in which we can make general claims and thus there are many ways to introduce contradictions to those claims. From the reading of this first part of chapter 8, I think it is something that is often very common in our everyday chats, seeing as how I came up with several conversations in my head in which I would question if the statement was valid or not. I think this is something that is very helpful to learn and understand, so that we may no longer make such general claims. It took me several readings in order to find out exactly what Epstein was trying to say.

assignment importance

I think that both of our group papers have had great importance for the course and for us as students. For the second assignment I think it pushes us as students and people in the society to get to know the good deeds that we can do to help others in need, whether that be countries in disaster or animals in fear of extinction. The second assignment had groups searching for information on a specific social organization that we found to be interesting. Our group chose the American Red Cross, mainly because we found it to be interesting especially with the catastrophe in Japan. I had always known of the American Red Cross, but having to do further research allowed me to really learn and understand the concept that they strive to obtain. I think social organizations like these to a lot of good in the world and help people in desperate need of aid.

Raising Objections

I read chapter 7 of Epstein’s book and one area that I found to be fairly interesting was the "Raising objections." One interesting thing that I liked that Epstein said was that raising objections is a way of showing that an argument is bad. I completely agree, because if someone didn’t raise any objections, then clearly they agree with you, or they are too afraid to state their objections. By raising objections it often shows other people your point of view and can sometimes change one's mind on a topic they created an argument for. One example that I experienced in my every day life dealt with stereotypes and an argument about a specific breed of dogs. A young couple came into my store with a Doberman Pinscher one day to shop around. After the couple left an older lady came up to me, with her poodle in her arms, and stated that she didn’t understand why people would get a Doberman when they are so vicious and mean. I stared at her in disbelief, thinking that her little yapping poodle was more likely to bite me then the sweet Doberman that I had just spent 15 minutes playing with. I raised my objection and said that they are sweet dogs when properly socialized, and as I reached to pet her dog, it started to snarl and yip. I looked at her and smiled and said that there is no mean gene in a dog’s genetics; it is simply the way they are raised and handled within their families. She walked away somewhat gloomy, seeing as I had a valid point. To me there is no reason to not raise objections when you don’t believe in something or don’t feel something is true, raising objections is your way of showing your feelings toward it.

Another idea that I found to be somewhat helpful was refuting an argument directly. This to me goes hand in hand with raising objections in the sense that you are bringing about a different idea or argument and stating that a premises is unconvincing. Overall I thought this chapter was interesting and had some good examples to back up what Epstein was stating.

Reasoning in a chain and slipper slope

In chapter 6, Epstein talks about compound claims, and how they exist in our conversations and arguments. One idea that helped me, or that I found interesting was the reasoning in a chain. This idea helps to validate an argument, however doesn’t always make it good. To reason in a chain Epstein states that you have to state conditionals in order for a chain to work correctly. By showing the steps you are able to prove that your argument is valid.

For example: If you buy a puppy then you will have to spend a lot of money on him. If you spend a lot of money then you can’t go on vacation. If you can’t go on vacation then you won’t get to relax. So if you get a puppy then you can’t relax. By showing the steps it takes from the first statement to the last, it causes a chain of reasoning.

Now for slippery slope, this is a bad argument in which someone states a false condition within the chain. For example: If you buy that shirt then you’ll want to go out. If you go out then you’ll meet a guy. When you meet the guy you’ll fall in love. Then you’ll get married and we can’t go shopping anymore. 

These statements are not completely true simply because she bought a shirt, the chain of conditions don’t seem plausible.

Overall I think Epstein’s breakdown helps me to realize to make a statement or argument valid I have to make sure my conditions are correct. Geesh who knew how complicating our conversations could get!! Lol

Advertising

http://www.covergirl.com/makeup-looks

I was on the Covergirl website browsing through their products. Like their commercials, Covergirl states the beauty one can find within the use of their products.

I feel that their claim for makeup is the perfect blend to get the "bold, look at me" look that many women desire from their makeup. Evaluating the premises-Why should we as consumers believe that Covergirl makeup is going to give us every look that we as a society crave? What proof do they show us to make us believe and trust that their makeup is going to make me look the best? Like Epstein says, we can't always get the justification that we often seek. Though commercials and faces of actresses we love have a definite way of helping us trust what Covergirl claims.

Personal experience- This also has a lot to do with how we feel about certain products, although sometimes we can be apprehensive in trying new things. However going back to what Epstein said " our most reliable source of information about the world is our own experience."

Common Mistakes in Evaluating Premises

One idea that I found to be interesting and somewhat enlightening was the "Common Mistakes in Evaluating Premises" in Chapter 5. Arguing backwards was a little confusing at first, but then the idea that just because an argument is strong and the conclusion is true does not always mean that the premises are true. I think my favorite mistake and probably one of the more common mistakes that we make in evaluating premises would be the "bad appeals to authority." I know for me personally I often find myself doing this, stating an argument is true or valid simply because I trust the source I heard it from or because a person I trust feels the same way I do. Therefore rather than taking the claim as false or looking for the facts and premises, we often just assume it is true because of the source. Another common mistake that I know I make is mistaking the person for the claim. Again this idea that Epstein suggests many of the same ideas as bad appeals to authority. It is incorrect to reject a claim because of the source. Overall these ideas and concepts actually make it easier to understand the ideas of premises and statements. Epstein has a way of surprising me every time I read a new chapter.