Critical Thinking 01 - Argumentation Basics

How many premise(s) can an argument have?

• One

• Two

• Three or More

• As Many as Needed

The Directory of Intentional Communities lists more than two hundred groups across the country organized around a variety of purposes, including environmentally aware living.

Is there an argument here?

• Yes

• No

Can it be established that genetic humanity is sufficient for moral humanity? I think there are very good reasons for not defining the moral community in this way.

Is there an argument here?

• Yes

• No

Carl would like to help out, but he won't be in town.

We'll have to find someone else who owns a truck.

Is there an argument here?

• Yes

• No

Carl would like to help out, but he won't be in town.

We'll have to find someone else who owns a truck.

Which sentence is the claim/conclusion?

• Carl would like to help out, but he won't be in town.

• We'll have to find someone else who owns a truck.

Fears that chemicals in teething rings and soft plastic toys may cause cancer may be justified.

Last week, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a report confirming that low amounts of DEHP, known to cause liver cancer in lab animals, may be absorbed from certain infant products.

Which sentence is the claim/conclusion?

• Fears that chemicals in teething rings and soft plastic toys may cause cancer may be justified.

• Last week, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a report confirming that low amounts of DEHP, known to cause liver cancer in lab animals, may be absorbed from certain infant products.

Computers will never be able to converse intelligently through speech. A simple example proves this. The sentences "How do you recognize speech?" and "How do you wreck a nice beach?" have different meanings, but they sound similar enough that a computer could not distinguish between the two.

Which sentence is the claim/conclusion?

• Computers will never be able to converse intelligently through speech.

• A simple example proves this.

• The sentences "How do you recognize speech?" and "How do you wreck a nice beach?" have different meanings, but they sound similar enough that a computer could not distinguish between the two.