Week 01 (How to spot an argument?) [Classes 1, 2 & 3]

Defining an Argument:

Argument is an intellectual process. It is a process of not just asserting your view but providing reasons for your view

"An Argument may be defined as a connected series of statements (intended) to establish a definite proposition"

Arguments are arranged by "Order of Reasoning" (comparatively, a dictionary is arranged in alphabetical order, a novel is arranged in a chronological order)

The purpose of an argument is not always to establish a proposition, because few propositions are already know. Arguments in this case can help to understand the propositions as why it is true. Eg. Pythagoras theorem.

So, a broader definitions of Arguments to cover these different kinds of reasons:

Therefore, an 'argument' is,

• a series of sentences, statements or prepositions
• where some are the 'premises'
• but one is the 'conclusion'
• where premises are intended to give 'reasons' for the conclusion

What are Arguments used for?

The purposes for which people use arguments are crucial in determining what an object is. Take for example an artifact that you might find in an archaeological site. You won't be able to figure out whether it's a really big screwdriver or a really small spatula unless you know whether the people who used it intended it to screw screws or to pick up food that they were cooking. 

So, to understand arguments we need to understand the purposes for arguments. And that means, why does somebody bother to give an argument instead of just asserting the conclusion without an argument?

Let us take an example,

If you went to a used car lot and the salesman said, you ought to buy that Mustang.

Would that convince you?

Not a chance!

But if the salesman said you ought to buy that Mustang because it looks really cool and it goes really fast. Or maybe it has great gas mileage or whatever, and gives you a series of reasons, then you might be convinced to buy the Mustang.

So, that's one purpose of an argument,

"To try convince someone to do things or believe things that he/she wouldn't do or believe" - This purpose is 'persuading' or 'convincing'.

And if you think about it what the salesman's trying to do is he's trying to change your mental states. He's trying to make you believe something that you didn't believe or do something that you didn't do. So he's trying to bring about an effect in the world. But that's just one purpose of arguments.

Not everyone acts like a salesman. Sometimes, instead of trying to change people's belief, we simply give them reasons for their belief or our belief. And to give them a reason is not necessarily to convince or persuade them or change their beliefs. We simply are giving them a reasons to believe the conclusion we're going to call that 'Justification'.

So, imagine that your friend, is thinking about buying a car. She doesn't know which one to buy. You might say. Well, I think you ought to buy the Mustang, because it looks really good and it goes really fast and its actually got pretty good gas mileage and its quiet reliable or whatever. You're not necessarily trying to convince her to buy that car. It'd be fine with you if she bought any car she wanted, any car that would make her happy. You're trying to talk about the reasons for buying the car so that you can make your own decision. And that says you're trying to justify that decision or that belief that Mustang is the best car for her to buy. And not necessarily to convince her or persuade her, if she comes up with great reason to the contrary you're perfectly happy. Whereas, the Salesman wouldn't be happy.  But notice, that you might give exactly the same reasons that the Salesman did, exactly the same arguments that the salesman did. The difference lies in the purpose. The salesman is trying to convince her to change her beliefs, but your goal with your friend is to discuss the reason for her decision or action. 

So, from the above example you can see a clear distinction between "Justification" and "Persuasion".

Justification tries to give good reasons.

Persuasion tries to change belief and action, and may give bad reasons to do that.

Of course, people can mix them together in various ways, and that can get complicated. So, if someone give you an argument, you need to ask a series of question:

(1) Is the arguer trying to change my mind / behavior? 

      >> Persuasion

(2) Is the arguer trying to give reasons to believe in something?

     >> Justification