Intro to Sociology Week 6.5.docx - Intro to Sociology Week...

Intro to Sociology
Week 6.5
Critical Thinking and Argumentation
Argumentation
Why arguments? To advance knowledge
 Argument provides a way for people with divergent views to jointly reach
conclusions through sound logical reasoning based on valid evidence
Other uses of arguments
 Eristic dialogue – social debate in which the primary goal is to win the
argument not to improve our understanding or achieve mutually agreed
solutions
o Most political debates, high school debate competitions
 Argument is used to protect the self-interest of people in courts of law or
civil discourse
o Arguments over whether to rezone property
 Argument is used to provide post hoc rationalizations of decisions made
irrationally, “putting lipstick on the pig” to dress up the decision and make it
seem more rational than it is
o Explanations of why it was really quite rational for you to cheat on
your partner
Elements of good arguments
 Toulmin (1958) in the uses of argument identified six components of
arguments. Since many authors have tried to identify key components of
arguments
o 1-Final Claim – the conclusion one participant argues is ture
o 2-Counterclaim – An alternative claim that often opposes final claim
o 3-Supporting Argument – statements supporting a claim or
counterclaim
 Evidence (data) – facts used to support a claim

 Pseudo-Evidence – anecdotes or other unproven information
with limited credibility
 Opinion – A statement of belief or preference
 Warrant – a statement connecting the data to a claim (e.g., an
assumption or logical deduction)
 Backing – credentials that may be used to add credibility to a
claim if the warrant is not sufficient
o 4-Rebuttal – statements challenging a claim or arguments in support
of a claim
Rules for good arguments
 “Pragma-Dialectics” – These are a series of rules for arguments that, if
followed, should lead to rational discourse and sound conclusions
 They are ideal rules and may not always be followed in practice but should
be.
6 rules for good arguments
 1-All claims must be defensible – the burden of proof is on the party that
makes a claim, and others have the right to challenge any claim
 2-Stay focused and relevant – support for a claim must be relevant to the
claim, and any support for a rebuttal must be related to the rebuttal
 3-Clarify – be as clear and as explicit as possible in defining concepts, stating
assumptions, and making logical arguments
 4-Sound reasoning – claims and rebuttals should be based on sound logic
and evidence
 5-Question assumptions – unstated assumptions should be clarified and
may be challenged
 6-Acknowledge valid points made by the other party – this is the only way
to achieve closure by recognizing progress and moving on to other issues

Distinguishing good and bad arguments
Good Arguments Will have… Bad arguments will have…
 Clear claims and counter claims Unclear or no claim
 Many supporting statements