Philosphy 103

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Inference

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The process of reasoning from one thought A, to another B, when we believe that A supports or justifies or makes it reasonable to believe in the truth of B

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Statement

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A sentence (i.e. set of words) that is used to make a claim that is capable of being true or false.

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Argument

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A set of statements that claims that one or more of those statements, called premises, support another of them called the conclusion.

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Premise

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The statement in an argument that is supposed to provide support for the conclusion

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Conclusion

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The statement in an argument that it's premises are supposed to support

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Inference indicators

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Therefore, so, hence, since, thus, implies, consequently, because, follows that, given that, etc.

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Logical strength

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An argument is said to have logical strength when is premises, if true, actually provide support for its conclusion.

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Deductive arguments

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An argument whose premises, if true, GUARANTEE the truth of the conclusion

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Inductive argument

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An argument whos premises, if true, make it reasonable to conclude that the conclusion is true, but do not provide an absolute guarantee

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Sound argument

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An argument that has both logical strength and true premises

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Counterfactual arguments

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An argument whose premises are known or assumed to be false. Used to explore the consequences of these premises

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Reductio ad absurdum

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An argument in which a statement is proven to be true by assuming it to be false and then deriving a contradiction from that assumption. A species of counterfactual argument

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Interpretive skills

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A set of capacities that are used to discern the meaning of something; in the context of class usually something written or said

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Verification skills

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A set of capacities that are used to determine the truth of falsity of statements

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Reasoning skills

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A set of capacities that are used to construct arguments and lines of reasoning

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Critical thinking skills

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A set of capacities that are used to analyze and assess arguments or lines of reasoning

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Logic

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The study of inferential connections between premises and conclusions in arguments with a view to determining whether the premises really do support the conclusion in any given argument

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Normative principles

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Rules that regulate a practice by serving as its standards of proper operation

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Reference theory of meaning

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The view that the meaning of a word consists in what it refers to

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Idea theory of meaning

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The view that the meaning of a word consists of the idea or mental image that is associated with the word

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Meaning of use

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The approach that explains meaning of linguistic items-primarily sentences, but, dirivitively, words- in terms of their use

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Descriptive function

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Languages use to convey factual information

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Evaluative function

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Languages use to make value judgements- to evaluate things

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Emotive function

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Languages use to express feelings or emotions

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Evocative function

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Languages use to evoke feelings or emotions in an audience

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Persuasive function

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Languages use to persuade people to accept something out to act in a certain way

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Interrogative function

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Languages use to elicit information

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Directive function

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languages use to command others to do something or to provide advice

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Performative function

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Languages use to perform actions, such as can be performed merely by saying a sentence; for example, when one says "I hereby promise / find the accused guilty / christen this boat / resign / strike 3, you're out!

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Recreational function

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Languages use merely to amuse ourselves and others: puns, word games, songs, etc.

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Sense

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What we understand when we understand it's meaning

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Reference

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The class of things to whichthe word refers

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Reportive definitions

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One that reports is standard usage