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Symbolic and Critical Reasoning - IAP 101

How Good Is the Evidence Part 2

The Critical Questions!!!


1. What are the Issue and the Conclusion? 2. What are the Reasons? 3. What Words or Phrases are Ambiguous? 4. What are the Value Conflicts and Assumptions? 5. What are the Descriptive Assumptions? 6. Are There Any Fallacies in the Reasoning? 7. How Good is the Evidence?

Fallacies List
Ad Hominem Slippery slope Searching for a perfect solution Equivocation Appeal to Popularity Appeal to Questionable Authority Appeal to Emotions Straw Person Either-Or (False Dilemma) Wishful Thinking Explaining by Naming Glittering Generality Red Herring Begging the Question (Circular Reasoning)

What is Evidence?

Evidence: Explicit information shared by the communicator that is used to back up or to justify the dependability of a factual claim. Mere Assertions: Require evidence but have none.

Evidence Cont.
It is extremely difficult to establish truth Better to ask, Is it dependable? The more supporting evidence there is, the more factual a claim Three instances for agreeing with a factual claim 1. It appears to be undisputed common knowledge. 2. It is a conclusion from a well-reasoned argument. 3. It is adequately supported by evidence.

Types of Evidence
Intuition (like the epistemology) Personal Experience (Empiricism) Personal Testimonials (Authoritarianism) Appeals to Authority (Authoritarianism)

Analogies: A comparison between two things to make a point. (If two things are alike in one way, they will probably be alike in another way too). Adults cannot learn all of the intricacies of new computer technology. Trying to teach adults new computer systems is like trying to teach an old dog new tricks. Advantages: They can be very powerful and persuasive. Disadvantages: There are faulty analogies that don't make sense. They can be deceiving because they sound right.

Analogies

Example
I do not allow my dog to run around the neighborhood getting into trouble, so why shouldn't I enforce an 8:00 p.m. Curfew on my 16-year-old daughter? I am responsible for keeping my daughter safe, as well as responsible for what she might do when she is out. My dog stays out in the yard, and I want my daughter to stay in the house. This way, I know exactly what they are both doing. Is this a sound argument?

Personal Observation
Personal Observation: Using one's senses to observe something Advantages: We feel confident of something we actually see or hear Disadvantages: We have a tendency to see or hear what we wish to see or hear, selecting and remembering what makes sense to us (consistent with our background). Best if they are recent observations made by several people under optimal conditions who have no apparent, strong expectations related to the event.

Research studies: a systematic collection of observations by people trained to do scientific research. Advantages: Avoids many biases. Reliable so that even if someone else did a similar study the results would be basically the same. Disadvantages: Not all research is dependable. Research findings DO NOT prove conclusions. At best, they support conclusions. Even researchers have biases, expectations and emotional investment. Also, research changes. It is important to drink 8 glasses of water a day.

Research studies

Case Examples
Case Examples: A detailed study of one or several individuals or events to support a conclusion. President of Payap: Of course our students can move on to high paying jobs and further study at large universities. Just this past year we sent one of our students, mary Nicexample, off to law school at Harvard. Therefore, our students certainly can achieve remarkable success at elite universities. Advantages: It can be very persuasive. Disadvantages: Uses fallacy appeal to emotions, which destracts from more relevant research. Case examples are not proof.

In Class Reflection
I think the three strikes law is a good idea. A criminal gets three offenses and then must go to jail. We give a batter in baseball only three attempts to swing and hit a ball, so why does a criminal deserve any better? Three swings and misses and you are out; three offenses and convictions and you go to jail. What is the conclusion? What is/are the reason(s)? What kind of evidence is used? How good is the evidence?

Your Papers
-you will be allowed a rewrite for extra credit -you can earn up to half the points you missed th -Due date August 4

Homework
Review Chapters 1-9 of Asking the Right Questions.

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