Basic concepts

Question 1

What is an Argument?

Answer 1

1) An argument is a set of claims or statements (i.e. things that can be true or false.
2) One of the claims is singled out for special attention. We call it the “conclusion”. The remaining claims are called the “premises”.
3) The premisses are interpreted as offering valid reasons to accept or believe the conclusion.

Question 2

How is an argument converted to the Standard Form?

Answer 2

Place claims (statements) on separate lines;

Place the conclusion at the bottom, separated from the premisses and preceded by “Therefore”.

Question 3

What is a claim (statement/proposition)?

What principle regulates its definition?

Answer 3

A sentence that can be true or false (but not both) i.e. the principle of bivalence.

Question 4

What types of sentence don’t count as claims?

Answer 4

Questions;

Commands;