Argument Definition and 388 Threads

In logic and philosophy, an argument is a series of statements (in a natural language), called the premises or premisses (both spellings are acceptable), intended to determine the degree of truth of another statement, the conclusion. The logical form of an argument in a natural language can be represented in a symbolic formal language, and independently of natural language formally defined "arguments" can be made in math and computer science.
Logic is the study of the forms of reasoning in arguments and the development of standards and criteria to evaluate arguments. Deductive arguments can be valid or sound: in a valid argument, premisses necessitate the conclusion, even if one or more of the premises is false and the conclusion is false; in a sound argument, true premises necessitate a true conclusion. Inductive arguments, by contrast, can have different degrees of logical strength: the stronger or more cogent the argument, the greater the probability that the conclusion is true, the weaker the argument, the lesser that probability. The standards for evaluating non-deductive arguments may rest on different or additional criteria than truth—for example, the persuasiveness of so-called "indispensability claims" in transcendental arguments, the quality of hypotheses in retroduction, or even the disclosure of new possibilities for thinking and acting.

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  1. S

    Argument Ideas on String Theory: Explore Now

    I have to write an argument paper on string theory and i was wondering if anyone has any good ideas about what to argue... I could always go for the whole "Is this the holy grail of science" theory, but i would like something a little more indepth and not so broad... any ideas?
  2. N

    Does the Cosmological Argument prove God's Existence?

    This is my first post here, so I appologise in advance if this is the wrong forum. Anyway, I was interested to see if this was a generally held opinion. My philosophy course didn't really go into much detail (alas, only Higher level (in Scotland)) I think that the cosmological argument goes as...
  3. V

    Argument with a co-worker about gravitation

    I'm having an argument with a co-worker about gravitation and need some "enlightened" advice. The argument is whether or not two objects dropped at the same time would impact the surface at EXACTLY the same time or not. I already presented the proof that when combining the law of...
  4. R

    Can Organization in the Universe Support the Design Argument for God?

    SOS links: http://www.ncst.ernet.in/kbcs/vivek/...1/sos/sos ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-organization I think most would agree that there is organization in the universe whether it be from biological systems or inorganic systems such as super-cooled helium or superconductors...
  5. V

    What Other Arguments Exist in Locke's Political Philosophy?

    Are there any other arguments regarding Locke's political philosophy? besides the belief that the government could only exist with the consent of the governed. and the belief that people have to the natural right to life, liberty, and property. any help would be appreciated.
  6. J

    Can you make a reasonable argument against reason?

    Can you make a reasonable argument against reason?
  7. S

    Argument of Complex Number: Begin at (-3,2) - 135 Degrees

    Hi everybody! Could somebody please assist me with an explanation as to why the following: arg (z+3-2i) = 135degrees : has its centre at -3,2 and that is the place where you begin the argument (ie go 135 degrees) Please note, just beginning complex numbers. Sorry if can't understand question...
  8. S

    Is Apple's Argument Against Abortion Consistent with Other Ethical Stances?

    This is, as far as I can tell, a pretty solid argument against abortion. Feedback? Flaws in reason? Alternative perspectives? It seems to me that the only way someone can accept abortion would be to accept many other (currently illegal) acts as perfectly ethical, or to be relativist, which I...
  9. K

    Sociology Argument: Race= Valid Means of Classifying

    The last couple days in Sociology have been very argumentative. Here's why Why Race Exists As a Valid Means of Classification We humans have created a device to help classify and recognize the physical differences between living organisms. This identification system was created in order...
  10. A

    Prove Determinant of Rotation Matrix is 1 w/Continuity Argument

    What's a continuity argument? For example, a question asks to prove that the determinant of a rotation matrix is always 1 using a continuity argument?
  11. TheStatutoryApe

    Medical Searle's Chinese Room Argument Against AI

    There has been an on going debate on the likelihood of achieving A.I. in the general philosophy forum. The major opponent of A.I. in this particular argument has been relying heavily on The Chinese Room Argument of John Searle. I won't get into the rest of the person's argument since it deals...
  12. Ivan Seeking

    Key Argument for Global Warming Critics Evaporates

    "Key Argument for Global Warming Critics Evaporates" http://www.livescience.com/environment/050811_global_warming.html
  13. R

    Newton's Sphere Theorem Argument is false.

    In his Principia Newton claimed that a hollow sphere exerts no force on a particle floating inside (Propositions 70 to 74 of Book I). His argument went as follows: (1) Imagine a test-particle at the vertex of a cone of fixed acuteness. You can picture the cone as a flashlight beam coming from...
  14. N

    How can I integrate cos(3x)cos(2x) without using tables?

    Develop the argument: Integral cos(3x)cos(2x)dx , without using integral tables. I know, cos (A+B) = cosA.cosB-sinA.sinB Any ideas:
  15. W

    Deriving Conclusion with Argument Derivations Principles of Sound Reasoning

    Principles of sound reasoning. For the following argument, derive the conclusion: B & C (A \leftrightarrow B) v (C\rightarrow D) (A v E) \rightarrow H (D & C) \rightarrow I (IvJ) \rightarrow H Conclusion is H. I know I am supposed to make some provisional...
  16. Math Is Hard

    Cosmological argument (from contingency)

    My teacher presented us with this version of the cosmological argument: 1. Something is contingent. 2. If something is contingent, its ultimate cause is either self-caused, uncaused, itself merely contingent, or a necessary being. 3. Its ultimate cause is either self-caused, uncaused...
  17. M

    Argument on factors determining a game's outcome

    premise : i do not know all the factors determining a game's outcome conclusion : i do not know the outcome of the game between Man U and Milan tonight i want to ask 1. What kind of argument is the above? (is it a deductive argument?) 2. How good it is?
  18. Math Is Hard

    Last minute question about string() argument

    What does the "1" do in string() in this line? answer = string(1,'0'+i%10) + answer; Thanks!
  19. H

    Chapter 3: Physicalist Responses to the Argument against Physicalism

    Note: Chapter 3 is the most technical and demanding chapter in A Place for Consciousness. It is intended primarily for graduate and professional level philosophers, and presupposes that the reader has some familiarity with many of the arguments and terms used. Therefore, discussion of this...
  20. H

    Chapter 2: The Argument against Physicalism

    This chapter serves as the entry point into Rosenberg's development of a Liberal Naturalist theory of consciousness and nature as a whole. Rosenberg argues that physicalism cannot do the job of accounting for p-consciousness, which will motivate the case for constructing a substantial new theory...
  21. S

    Doomsday Argument: Probability of End in 9000 Years?

    Has anyone heard of this? It basically says that since the population is exponentially growing, most of the people are going to appear a short time before the end of the world. Since we're here now, chances are we're near the end. I think they said there's something like a 95% chance the...
  22. U

    Argument for the Existence of God

    "Argument for the Existence of God" I find this very interesting and humorous: http://members.cox.net/wwcw/godexists.html#bot1 any thoughs?
  23. honestrosewater

    About randomness & determinism- NOT another free will argument.

    I'm interested in exploring the nature and methods of defining random and determined events. Please forget, at least for now, their applications to free will. For example, is there some reason for defining one in terms of the other, as in: An event is random if [conditions]. An event is...
  24. M

    Was the Iraq War Justified by Its Outcomes?

    In a brainstorming exercise in my English 151 class a few weeks ago, my teacher told us to write down all of the things that we feel strongly about on a sheet of paper. I couldn’t write anything. As she requested our papers I hastily wrote down a few things, but none of them I truly felt strong...
  25. J

    Cantor's diagonal argument (I guess technically this comes under set theory)

    I have a question about the potentially self-referential nature of cantor's diagonal argument (putting this under set theory because of how it relates to the axiom of choice). If we go along the denumerably infinite list of real numbers which theoretically exists for the sake of the example...
  26. Math Is Hard

    C Programming: Understanding Command Line Argument

    I am looking at a sample program in my C programming book that demonstrates using standard I/O to read a file. The program checks to see if there is a command line argument. I am not sure what a command line argument is. I am also not sure how to even run the program. (I think I have to run this...
  27. Math Is Hard

    Example of Straw Man Argument: Find Here

    Could someone give me an example of a straw man argument, or point me to a thread where I could find this? Thanks!
  28. C

    How to Efficiently Read and Store Numbers from a File in C++?

    Two questions, 1) Can you tell me why ifstream f("f.txt"); //there are 2 numbers in file f int count=0 while(!f.eof()){ f>>x[count]; count++; } Why does there exist to be x[2] ? How can I chaneg the code to get only two x[0],x[1]; 2) Completely different though, Are there any ways...
  29. T

    An argument that moral relativism is wrong.

    An argument that moral relativism is "wrong." :) I understand that it may be fashionable to call yourself a 'relativist' now-a-days but, before you take that idea as your own, maybe you will test the waters a bit. I, for one, just don’t see the "blank slate" morality approach as being a real...
  30. S

    A Really Good Discussion of the Zombie Argument

    Here is a careful discussion of fiction, imagination, and what it would take to make Chalmer's zombie argument valid.
  31. K

    Smallest Argument of Complex Number z |z+8i|=4

    What is the argument of the complex number z which has the smallest argument in |z+8i|=4? I solved the problem correctly but my answer is rather long |z-(-8i)|=4 (drawing) z_0=a+bi, z_1=-a+bi |a+bi+8i|=4 sqrt(a^2+(b+8)^2)=4 (radius) a^2+b^2+16b+64=16 (eq 1) And from 4-8-sqrt(48)...
  32. jimmy p

    Proving We Are All Goats: A Logical Argument

    Why Bother? Throughout the ages many have suspected that there's no point in learning anything. Now, however, we have evidence that this is true! At least it transpires that knowledge acts as a brake on an individual's earning potential. This theorem (the more you know the less you earn) can...
  33. R

    Mathematica Mathematical Argument For The Existence Of God

    This is an interpretation of Christopher Langan's CTMU, www.ctmu.org , and Saint Anslem's ontological argument. 1.] If it is possible for a mind to perfectly understand[model] every aspect and detail of reality, then the mind that perfectly models reality is a super-intelligence, for all...
  34. O

    A question on Cantor's second diagonalization argument

    Hi, Cantor used 2 diagonalization arguments. On the first argument he showed that |N|=|Q|. On the second argument he showed that |Q|<|R|. I have some question on the second argument. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantor's_diagonal_argument...
  35. O

    A question on Cantor's second digitalization argument.

    A question on Cantor's second diagonalization argument. Hi, Cantor used 2 diagonalization arguments. On the first argument he showed that |N|=|Q|. On the second argument he showed that |Q|<|R|. I have some question on the second argument. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia...
  36. marcus

    Interesting argument among string-thinkers

    recent post at spr by Jeffery Winkler contributed to the debate between the anthropic and mis-anthropic camps within Stringery ----------------------- Jeffery cites an earlier exchange between Thomas Larsson and Lubos Motl. Larsson wrote, 22 Sept: [[Now I am starting to worry seriously...
  37. G

    Is it best to chose a side or position rather in an argument

    Is it best to chose a side or position rather in an argument, for arguments sake? I'm often non-confrontational, and i tend to avoid chosing a position to argue from and usually pick some non committal stance so that i may review both sides or the debate without bias. I've always validated...
  38. Pirwzwhomper

    Is the Ontological Argument for God's Existence Flawed Due to Ambiguous Terms?

    The famous argument seems to logically explain the existence of God. However, the argument has a flaw. The Ontological Argument states: 1.I have an idea of supremely perfect being, i.e. a being having all perfections. 2.Necessary existence is a perfection. 3.Therefore, a supremely...
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