Restructuring Arguments into their Standard Form

Restructuring Arguments

into their Standard Form

by Luis Binala

​What is an argument?

​

Argument: a group of statements consist of at least one premise and only one conclusion.​

​What is an premise?

​

Premise: the statement which serves as support or reason for accepting the conclusion.

​What is a conclusion?

​

Conclusion: the statement which is affirmed on the basis of the premise/s.

​What is a statement/proposition?

​

Statement/proposition: a declarative sentence that must either be true or false.

​What are the purposes of using arguments?

​

We use arguments for at least three

purposes:

1. To clarify our thoughts

2. To persuade others to change a certain point of view or to take a definite course of action

3. To discover truth

​

​

​​Two Basic Kinds of Argument

​

1. Deductive Argument

​

​2. Inductive Argument

​

​​​What is a deductive argument?

​

Deductive argument is an argument in which the premises are claimed to support the conclusion in such a way that if they are assumed true, it is impossible for the conclusion to be false.

​

​​​Example of a Deductive Argument

​

(P1) All MAV SHS students are intelligent.

(P2) Mark is an MAV SHS student.

(C) Therefore, Mark is necessarily intelligent.

​

​​​​What is an inductive argument?

​

Inductive argument is an argument in which the premises are claimed to support the conclusion in such a way that if they are assumed true, then based on that assumption it is only probable that the conclusion is true.

​

​​​​​Example of an Inductive Argument

​

(P1) Mark is intelligent.

(P2) JM is also intelligent.

(C) Therefore, all MAV SHS students are probably

intelligent.

​

​What is the standard form of arguments?

It is a formal way of restructuring arguments into a particular presentation where the premises and the conclusion are often labeled, and display them on separate lines with the conclusion at the bottom.

Example of restructuring arguments into standard form

Original form of the argument (in prose):

​

​We know that God exists because He revealed Himself to us through His creation.

Example of restructuring arguments into standard form

Standard form of the argument:

​

​(P) He revealed Himself to us through His creation.

​(C) Therefore, we know that God exists.

Example of restructuring arguments into standard form

Original form of the argument (in prose):

​

​Peter should love Paul. Paul is Peter's enemy. God said that we should love our enemy.

Example of restructuring arguments into standard form

Standard form of the argument:

​

​(P1) God said that we should love our enemy.

​(P2) Paul is Peter's enemy.

​(C) Therefore, Peter should love Paul.

​

​Why do we need to restructure arguments into standard form?

Arguments in ordinary communication are usually implicit or indirect. By restructuring them into standard format, we can easily and clearly evaluate their validity and truth.

Assessment

Choose the correct standard form between the two options for each of the given arguments.

​

Multiple Choice

Education is currently delivered online because the pandemic hinders social gathering.

• (P) Education is currently delivered online.

  (C) The pandemic hinders social gathering.

• (P) The pandemic hinders social gathering.

  (C) Education is currently delivered online.

Multiple Choice

No one had anticipated the pandemic, therefore all of us are caught unprepared.

• (P) No one had anticipated the pandemic.

  (C) All of us are caught unprepared.

• (P) All of us are caught unprepared.

  (C) No one had anticipated the pandemic.

Multiple Choice

Since all means of transportation have been minimized in their operations, pollution in the air and sea decreased.

• (P) All means of transportation have been minimized in their operations.

  (C) Pollution in the air and sea decreased.

• (P) Pollution in the air and sea decreased.

  (C) All means of transportation have been minimized in their operations.

Multiple Choice

Virus-infected people increase in number due to the weak implementation of prevention protocol and the disobedience of much of the people.

• (P1) Virus-infected people increase in number.

  (P2) The implementation of prevention protocol is weak.

  (C) Much of the people are disobedient.

• (P1) Much of the people are disobedient.

  (P2) Virus-infected people increase in number.

  (C) The implementation of prevention protocol is weak.

• (P1) The implementation of prevention protocol is weak.

  (P2) Much of the people are disobedient.

  (C) Virus-infected people increase in number.

Multiple Choice

The Filipinos are resilient and they are inclined to hope for the better, hence they are courageously going through the challenges of the pandemic.

• (P1) The Filipinos are resilient.

  (P2) They are inclined to hope for the better.

  (C) They are courageously going through the challenges of the pandemic.

• (P1) They are courageously going through the challenges of the pandemic.

  (P2) The Filipinos are resilient.

  (C) They are inclined to hope for the better.

• (P1) They are inclined to hope for the better.

  (P2) They are courageously going through the challenges of the pandemic.

  (C) The Filipinos are resilient.

Multiple Choice

Given that Filipinos value “bayanihan,” we can cope with the economic decline caused by the pandemic.

• (P) Filipinos value “bayanihan."

  (C) We can cope with the economic decline caused by the pandemic.

• (P) We can cope with the economic decline caused by the pandemic.

  (C) Filipinos value “bayanihan.”

Multiple Choice

Humans have mind and they also have will. It follows that they are moral agents.

• (P1) Humans have mind.

  (P2) They also have will.

  (C) They are moral agents.

• (P1) They also have will.

  (P2) They are moral agents.

  (C) Humans have mind.

• (P1) They are moral agents.

  (P2) Humans have mind.

  (C) They also have will.

Multiple Choice

Abortion is murder. We know that a fetus has human life and killing an innocent one is murder.

• (P1) Abortion is murder.

  (P2) A fetus has human life.

  (C) Killing an innocent one is murder.

• (P1) Killing an innocent one is murder.

  (P2) Abortion is murder.

  (C) A fetus has human life.

• (P1) A fetus has human life.

  (P2) Killing an innocent one is murder.

  (C) Abortion is murder.

Multiple Choice

Supernaturalism has evidence. To exist is different from to exist in a body; the mind is different from the brain.

• (P1) Supernaturalism has evidence.

  (P2) To exist is different from to exist in a body.

  (C) The mind is different from the brain.

• (P1) The mind is different from the brain.

  (P2) Supernaturalism has evidence.

  (C) To exist is different from to exist in a body.

• (P1) To exist is different from to exist in a body.

  (P2) The mind is different from the brain.

  (C) Supernaturalism has evidence.

Multiple Choice

According to Blaise Pascal, man is the great paradox. He is a tiny part of the universe yet he is distinct from it. While the universe is unaware of its own existence, man reflects his place in it.

• (P1) Man is the great paradox.

  (P2) He is a tiny part of the universe yet he is distinct from it.

  (C) While the universe is unaware of its own existence, man reflects his place in it.

• (P1) While the universe is unaware of its own existence, man reflects his place in it.

  (P2) Man is the great paradox.

  (C) He is a tiny part of the universe yet he is distinct from it.

• (P1) He is a tiny part of the universe yet he is distinct from it.

  (P2) While the universe is unaware of its own existence, man reflects his place in it.

  (C) Man is the great paradox.

Multiple Choice

Society is composed of human beings. Each human being is part of a family. The family is the basic unit of society.

• (P1) Society is composed of human beings.

  (P2) Each human being is part of a family.

  (C) The family is the basic unit of society.

• (P1) The family is the basic unit of society.

  (P2) Society is composed of human beings.

  (C) Each human being is part of a family.

• (P1) Each human being is part of a family.

  (P2) The family is the basic unit of society.

  (C) Society is composed of human beings.

Multiple Choice

To be a critical thinker, you have to be equipped with at least the basics of logic. A critical thinker can identify the premises and the conclusion of an argument and has the ability to evaluate the argument’s validity, soundness, strength, and/or cogency.

• (P1) To be a critical thinker, you have to be equipped with at least the basics of logic.

  (P2) A critical thinker can identify the premises and the conclusion of an argument.

  (C) Such thinker has the ability to evaluate the argument’s validity, soundness, strength, and/or cogency.

• (P1) Such thinker has the ability to evaluate the argument’s validity, soundness, strength, and/or cogency.

  (P2) To be a critical thinker, you have to be equipped with at least the basics of logic.

  (C) A critical thinker can identify the premises and the conclusion of an argument.

• (P1) A critical thinker can identify the premises and the conclusion of an argument.

  (P2) Such thinker has the ability to evaluate the argument’s validity, soundness, strength, and/or cogency.

  (C) To be a critical thinker, you have to be equipped with at least the basics of logic.