What is a Good Argument?

What are some key points in arguments?

- Every good argument is valid or strong. - - Not every valid or strong argument is good. (It could have a dubious premise or beg the question.) - Only invalid arguments are classified from strong to weak. - Every weak argument is bad. - If the conclusion of a valid argument is false, one of its premises must be false.

What does an argument is valid/strong does not depend on?

- whether the premises are true. - whether we know the premises are true. - whether the person making the argument thinks the argument is valid or strong.

What is a plausible claims?

A claim is plausible if we have good reason to believe it's true. It is less plausible the less reason we have to believe it's true.

What is a good argument?

A good argument should give us good reason to believe its conclusion.

What is "Begging the question"?

An argument begs the question if even one of its premises is not more plausible than its conclusion.

What is a strong argument?

An argument is strong if there are ways for the premises to be true and conclusion false at the same time, but they're all unlikely.

What is a valid argument?

An argument is valid if it is impossible for the premises to be true and conclusion false at the same time; otherwise it is invalid.

What is a weak argument?

An invalid argument that is not strong is weak. (Strong: An argument is strong if there are ways for the premises to be true and conclusion false at the same time, but they're all unlikely.) (Valid: An argument is valid if it is impossible for the premises to be true and conclusion false at the same time; otherwise it is invalid.)

What does it mean when the argument FOLLOWS FROM the premies?

The conclusion of an argument follows from the premises means that the argument is valid or strong.

How do you test for an argument to be good?

The premises are plausible. The premises are more plausible than the conclusion. The argument is valid or strong.