In: Psychology
Philosophy
6.2
Write a response to this passage
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An argument is a list of statements, one of which is the conclusion and the others are the premises or assumptions of the argument. The parts that make up an argument are consistency, validity, and soundness. Consistency is ensuring that all parts of the line of reasoning contribute to the conclusion. Validity is a statement of the arguments and lastly soundness is a property of both arguments and the statements in them. When writing I can apply these principles to make the reader understand my argument. It would be extremely helpful when writing an argumentative essay using these principles to create your argument.
If we take Philosophy as a practice which deals with the art of making arguments then we can begin to appreciate the nuances which go behind the development of an argument in speech or writing. An argument is a set of statements (called premises) which are used in coordination to support another statement with a final verdict (the conclusion).
Making and assessing arguments can help us get closer to understanding the truth. Analysis of an argument is not in terms of truth or falsity claims but in termms of the validity or invalidity of the propositions of the argument . Hence,arguments are based on the use of reason when we discuss our beliefs with other people. Qualities such as validity, soundness and consistency in the claims of the premises and the conclusion, are therefore means to make strong arguments and also to assess the arguments other people make.
While I agree with the following following I would also like to add that a sound, valid and consistent argument also means that others can easily Identify our spoken or unspoken assumptions. The quality of a good argument would be then to make the underlying assumptions explicit in one’s argumentative construction so that others can assess our logical reasoning behind them more easily. For it is the mark of a strong and good argument that it makes itslef easy to grasp and understand rather than confuse and lose the interest of the opponent.