ThinkCritically.net http://www.thinkcritically.net Critical Thinking Articles and Videos en Fri, 13 Aug 2010 05:44:07 +0800 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss mail@thinkcritically.net mail@thinkcritically.net 1440 RSSeditor v0.9.54 (http://www.rss-info.com) Soundness and Cogency http://www.thinkcritically.net/soundness-and-cogency Truth and Acceptability http://www.thinkcritically.net/truth-and-acceptability This article describes how to evaluate premises in an argument. The acceptability of premises is distinct from their truth, and here I discuss why this is, as well as what constitutes an acceptable premise and what does not. a priori and a posteriori truths are also introduced, as well as what provisional premises are and how they differ in requirement and use from regular premises.

Video also available.

]]> Support and Validity - Answers to Questions http://www.thinkcritically.net/support-and-validity-questions Formal Logic http://www.thinkcritically.net/formal-logic A very brief overview of what formal logic is in comparison to what these articles have been talking about so far which could be described as informal logic. There is a very simplified look at the history of syllogistic logic and an explanation of what formal logic is about and how it has been developed through to today.

Video also available.

]]> Support and Validity http://www.thinkcritically.net/support-and-validity Support and validity are central concepts when talking about arguments in any way. This article discusses how to evaluate the support an arguments premises give to its conclusion, and introduces the special case of complete support; deductive validity. Contradictions are also introduced, as well as the different ways that contradictions can appear.

Video also available.

]]> Standardising Arguments - Answers to Questions http://www.thinkcritically.net/standardising-arguments-questions Standardising Arguments http://www.thinkcritically.net/standardising-arguments Standardising arguments is a method to help you translate an argument in natural language into its logical order, so that you can see how it is working. This article teaches that premise, and talks about common mistakes that are made; the all-purpose premise and begging the question. There is also a brief discussion of how premises can support conclusions in different ways; being linked or convergent.

Video also available.

]]> Conditionals and Modal Expressions - Answers to Questions http://www.thinkcritically.net/conditionals-and-modal-expressions-questions Conditionals and Modal Expressions http://www.thinkcritically.net/conditionals-and-modal-expressions This article covers the basics of conditionals, and introduces disjunctions including the different meanings of the word or. There is also a discussion of modal expressions, outlining the problems they can create and showing three different ways that they are commonly used. Definitions of necessary and contingent truths are also included.

Video also available.

]]> Introducing Arguments - Answers to Questions http://www.thinkcritically.net/introduction-to-arguments-questions Introducing Arguments http://www.thinkcritically.net/introduction-to-arguments This is a basic introduction about what arguments are. It covers simple and complex sentences andstatements, as well as introducing premises and conclusions. This article also explains what inferences are, introduces conjunctions, and touches on the topics of hidden premises and implied conclusions.

Video also available.

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