Statements and Arguments

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Statements

A statement is a kind of sentence. Not all sentences can be statements.

In Philosophy a statement is a sentence that has truth value. This means that it can be proved true or false.

The sky is blue.

Cats have tails.

Bucksburn is in the north east of Scotland.

Take your shoes off at the door please!

Where is Bucksburn?

Mmm Chocolate!

Facts like: "The sky is blue." can be proved true or false by using evidence, so they can be statements

The first sentence on the right:"Take off your shoes at the door please" is a command. You can't prove that a command is true or false so it cannot be a statement. The same goes for questions and exclamations.

Statements are the only kind of sentence that belong in an argument. Anything else does not help to prove the arguers point and so is useless.

The purpose of an argument is to prove or disprove something. You cannot do that without statements. In arguments they act as the evidence for the claim you want to prove.

When you make a claim and back it up with evidence (statements) this is called proving.If you don't give any evidence then it is called asserting.

If you make a claim that is meant to disprove something and have given evidence (statements) then this is called refuting. If you don't give any evidence then this is called denying.

Important

Words

Statment

Sentence

Assert

Deny

Prove

Refute

Tasks

Let us go over what you have just learnt.

Click the download button on each of the tasks below and complete them.

You can either create your own copy, print out and write, or type into a copy you can download from GoogleClassroom.

Task 1

Task 2

Arguments

Arguments are important in philosophy because they have the power to get others to agree to something that they might have otherwise disagreed with.

Arguments are a collection of statements which try to convince us of something whereas a statement is simply a sentence with truth value.

Argument

Socrates was a great musician. He had mastered electric guitar by the time he was 12.

Statement

Socrates was a great musician.

Arguments are more powerful than statements. Statements will assert something is true or false but an argument Cana actually establish that something is true or false. This means that arguments can make a claim and give evidence to prove that claim.

Arguments are made of two different parts. These parts are called premises and conclusions.

Argument

This shape is a triangle because its angles all add up to 180 degrees.

Statement

This shape is a triangle.

This is an argument because it makes a claim (this shape is a triangle) and give evidence to prove that claim (because its angles all add up to 180 degrees). The statement is only a statement because it is making a claim (this shape is a triangle) but does not provide any evidence.

Tasks

Let us practice distinguishing arguments from statements by completing the task below (also found in your GoogleClassroom).

Task 3

Task 4

Not an Argument

To better understand arguments it is useful to contrast them with types of writing that are not arguments.

Take a look a the examples below to see the difference.

Argument

Nuclear weapons haven't been used since 1945. There also has not been a war between two nuclear states. here facts make it clear that nuclear weapons create peace, not war.

Not an

Argument

Nuclear weapons emit huge amounts of radiation that would case death and suffering to millions of humans. They cause irreparable environmental damage.

The piece of writing on the right s just a collection of statements or facts. There is no point that the argument is trying to prove. Remember arguments are used to try and convince us of something. In the examples below the one on the right is giving an explanation but is not providing any type of argument. It doe not try to convince us of anything.

Argument

It's a basic civil right to wear whatever religious or cultural symbols you want wherever you want, whether that be a necklace or a veil. The schools have no right to interfere with that.

Tasks

Not an

Argument

Religious clothing can be defined as a type of dress that is important to a particular religion. Types of religious clothing might include - a hijab, a crucifix, or a turban.

Let us practice identifying arguments by completing the task below (also found in your GoogleClassroom).

Task 5

Conclusions

The statements in arguments can be split into two categories. These categories are the premises and the conclusion. The conclusion is the claim that the argument is trying to establish. The premises are the reasons given to support the conclusion.

Conclusion

John Green has sold lots of books and has many fans. He has also won a lot of awards and his new book is being made into a movie. This means John Green is a good writer.

Conclusion

The Sims has sold millions of copies. It has a devoted following. It's spawned 3 sequels. Clearly The Sims is the greatest gaming series of all time.

Every other statement in these arguments are being used as evidence to try and prove that John Green is a good writer or that The Sims is the greatest game ever. That is why the statements in the box are the conclusion and the rest are premises.

Tips

Conclusions often begin with words like:

Therefore

Thus

Consequently.

Premises often begin with things like:

Because

Since

Due

These are called inference indicators.

Important

Words

Argument

Premise

Conclusion

Establish

Premises

Why makes a premise acceptable?

It is known a priori (is true).
The premise is known to be true or can be accepted as true.
- A premise can be true and therefore acceptable, even if it contains reference to another persons' gender or race, which would make it unacceptable in another sense e.g. sexism.
If the premise is a matter of common knowledge.
Is unambiguous.
If the premise appeals to the appropriate authority.
If the premise properly represents the facts pertaining to the conclusion.