PHI 103 Week 1 Discussion Standard Form Arguments
Standard Form Arguments. 1st Post Due by Day 3. The total combined word count for all of your posts for this discussion, counted together, should be at least 400 words. Answer all the questions in the prompt, and read any resources that are required to complete the discussion properly. In order to satisfy the posting requirements for the week, complete your initial post by Day 3 (Thursday) and your other posts by Day 7 (Monday). We recommend that you get into the discussion early and spread out your posts over the course of the week. Reply to your classmates and instructor. Attempt to take the conversation further by examining their claims or arguments in more depth or responding to the posts that they make to you. Keep the discussion on target, and analyze things in as much detail as you can. The central tool of logic is the argument. Accordingly, constructing good arguments is the central element of this course. Each writing assignment in this course will give you an opportunity to construct and improve upon an argument that you will develop as the course progresses. This discussion post allows you to begin the process of developing your argument by presenting good reasoning on both sides of an issue.
Prepare: To prepare for this discussion, read the assigned chapters of the primary text, paying special attention to Chapter 2. Review the required resources, including the videos about arguments. Also, comprehensively analyze The Raise interactive scenario to gain more appreciation of the importance of constructing good arguments in life. Choose a topic from the PHI103 Final Paper Options list. Make sure to choose a topic for which you can defend a position with careful logical reasoning.
Reflect: Construct the strongest argument that you can on each side of the issue. Contemplate possible objections to your arguments (a reason that might someone on the opposite side might disagree), and revise your arguments in light of the objections. Continue this process until you feel that your arguments are as convincing as you can possibly construct them.
Write: Present two arguments in standard form (with each premise and conclusion on a separate line) on the same topic (selected from the PHI103 Final Paper Options list). The two arguments should represent different positions on the topic. For example, if your topic was Santa Claus (no, that’s not one of the topics on the list), then you might present one argument for the claim that Santa Claus does exist and another argument that Santa Claus does not exist. The premises of each argument will present reasons for thinking that the conclusion is true.
For each argument, provide a brief explanation of the strengths and weaknesses of the argument. You might consider whether the argument is inductive or deductive, or you might provide a diagram of the argument. Think about how the two arguments compare to each other. Is one better than the other? If so, what makes that one better? Is each a fair presentation of what someone taking that position would say? Are the premises reasonable? How might each argument be made better?
Guided Response: Read the arguments presented by your classmates, and analyze the reasoning that they have presented. Whether you agree with their position or not, see if you can help them to improve their arguments. In particular, point out any respect in which a reasonable person might disagree with the truth of their premises or with the strength of their reasoning. Consider addressing the following questions: Did your classmate present a convincing argument? Why, or why not? Which part of the argument might someone dispute (e.g., premise, conclusion, structure, etc.)? How might the argument be strengthened?
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