Chapter 1 Section 1.1
Deductive Logic PHIL 111
Professor Doug Olena
What is an Argument?
p. 2 „Logic is the study of arguments, so we must begin by learning exactly what arguments are and how to recognize them.¾
„An argument is a group of statements of which one (called the conclusion) is supported by others (called premises).äIt is the basic unifying concept in all of logic.¾
3 „There is no argument without a conclusion supported by premises¾
What is an Argument?
3 The conclusion is what the author is trying to prove.
Conclusions may be found anywhere in an argument.
Logical arguments have nothing to do with the emotional content of a verbal exchange.
What is an Argument?
3 The statements contained in arguments may also be questions that can be rewritten in the form of a statement. examples 1.1H, 1.1I
4 „Frequently, one encounters arguments in which premises or even the conclusion are left unstated. In such a case, the missing statement is said to be implicit.
5 „The reader must be prepared to cooperate with the author in assembling the argument the author intends to make.¾
Recognizing Arguments
5 „ä¼thus¼, åsince¼, åhence¼, åtherefore¼, åwe see that¼¾ etc. are words that indicate an argument is intended. 
„These expressions are called illatives.¾
Some mark reasons, while others mark conclusions.
Some arguments may not contain any illatives at all though it is clear from the author¼s intent that an argument is being proposed.
Recognizing Arguments
5 „ä¼thus¼, åsince¼, åhence¼, åtherefore¼, åwe see that¼¾ etc. are words that indicate an argument is intended. 
„These expressions are called illatives.¾
Some mark reasons, while others mark conclusions.
Some arguments may not contain any illatives at all though it is clear from the author¼s intent that an argument is being proposed.
Exercise at bottom of 5.
Tricky Non-Arguments
6 Three kinds of passages are often mistaken for arguments, Explanations, Conditionals, and Analogies
Explanations: „while an explanation helps us understand why some statements are true, an argument is called for if the truth of the statement is in doubt and must be supported.¾
Tricky Non-Arguments
7 Conditionals: „whereas every argument supports a conclusion, by itself a conditional just identifies conditions under which some statement would be true.¾
8 Analogies: „if you are looking for arguments, and you encounter an analogy, ask yourself what conclusion, if any, the author is using the analogy to support. If there is no clear answer, the analogy may not be part of an argument.
Finding Arguments
9 Arguments can be located:
	in magazine and newspaper editorials 
	in letters to editors
	textbooks
	non-fiction books in which the author advocates a position.
	philosophy books
	etc.
Finding Arguments
exercises: page 9-11 etc.