PHI 210 (CHAPTER 1-3)

Definition by synonym

Giving another word or phrase that means the same as the term defined (i.e. Fastidious means the same as fussy )

Fundamental Attribution Error

Having one understanding of behavior of people in the in-group and another for people not in the in-group

Semantic Ambiguity

Making a claim ambiguous by using an ambiguous word or phrase (i.e. right vs. correct)

Loss Aversion

People are more likely to avoid loss than accuse gain

Ethos

Persuasion based on someones personal attributes (background, reputation, accomplishments and expertise)

Pathos

Persuasion by connecting with someone on a personal level and arousing and appealing to emotions

Pathos

Persuasion by connecting with someone on a personal level, and by arousing and appealing to our emotions by skillful use of rhetoric

Logos

Persuasion using information and arguments

Definition by example

Pointing to, naming pr identifying one or more examples of the sort of thing to which the term applies

Analytical definition

Specifying the features that a thing must possess in order for the term being defined to apply

Moral Subjectiveness

The idea that moral opinions are subjunctive (What you think is true based on morals is truth to you)

Relativism

The idea that truth is relative to the standards of a given culture (holds that their is no way to determine what culture is correct)

False Consensus Effect

The inclination we may have to assume that our attitudes and those held by people around us are shared by society at large

Premise

The part of an argument that provides the reason

Conclusion

The part of the argument that the premise supposedly supports or demonstrates

Conformation Bias

The tendency to attach more weight to evidence that supports your own viewpoint (i.e. Democrats embracing fox news)

Belief Bias

The tendency to evaluate reasoning by the believability of its conclusion

Negativity Bias

The tendency to weigh negative information more heavily than positive information

What is the primary aim for an argumentative essay?

To support a position on an issue

What is Truth?

Truth is an objective belief or claim. Truth is a claim that is free from error

Bandwagon Effect

Unconscious tendency to align one's thinking with that of other people

Claim

When a belief is asserted in a declarative sentence

Syntactic Ambiguity

When a claim is open to two or more interpretations b/c of it's structure

Overconfidence effect

When a person

Ambiguous

When a word or phrase has more than one meaning

Grouping Ambiguity

When it is not clear whether a word is being used to refer to a group collectively or to members of the group individually

Valid

When it isn't possible for the premise to be true and the conclusion false

What is knowledge?

When you believe something, have an argument beyond reasonable doubt that is so, and have no reason to think you are mistaken

Vague

When you cannot say with certainty what it includes and what it excludes

Subjunctive Claim

Whether a claim is true or false is not independent of whether people think it is true or false (OPINION)

Objective Claim

Whether it is true or false is independent of whether or not people think it is true or false (FACTUAL)

When does a claim lack credibility?

when it conflicts with what we think we know, our background information, or with other credible claims

Critical Thinking

- Involves deciding whether ours or others thinking is rational and logical - Ultimate goal of critical thinking: Coming to conclusions that are correct and making decisions that are wise

What are the two parts of an argument?

1. The reason for accepting the other part 2. What the first part supposedly supports

What are the three purposes of definitions?

1. To tell us what a word means 2. Helps to make a term more precise when the usual meaning of the word is too vague or general to be useful in a given context 3. To persuade (persuasive or rhetorical definitions) ex. A liberal defining a conservative as a hidebound, narrow-minded hypocrite who thinks the point of life is to make money

Argument

A consideration for accepting a claim

What is the difference between and interested and disinterested parties?

A person who stands to gain from our belief in a claim is an interested party, and interested parties must be viewed with much more suspicion than disinterested parties who have no stake in our belief one way or another

Belief

A propositional statement (a sentence that is either true or false)

Issue

A question that can be either objective or subjective

Initial Plausibility

A rough assessment of how credible a claim seems to us (depends on background information)