UNDERSTANDING THE ARGUMENT

Objective:
At the end of this topic, the student is expected to:
1. be able to expose and recognize arguments.
2. be able to identify non-arguments.
3. know how to diagram arguments.

Exposing the Argument

Exposing the argument means to single out the conclusion from the premise or
premises. To distinguish the conclusion, we must identify the claim being
made. The reasons that back up the claim are called the premises.

Dogs are not reptiles since no mammal is a reptile and dogs are mammals.

If the national economy is really doing well that would mean an improved quality
of life for most poor people. Since there is really no significant improvement in
the life of most poor people, then, all news that the economy is doing well is
mere talk.

The important point to consider in exposing the argument is

inference. Inference is the process by which something new is known based
on previously known truths. The conclusion in an argument must not simply
restate nor summarize the premise. There must be a real connection between
the claim being made and the support given for the claim. If there is no reason
given for a certain claim, that claim cannot be considered as a conclusion. A
conclusion must be a supported claim so as to distinguish it from unsupported
claims.

It is Monday today. It is also the start of the semester..

Since the time he became mayor, he has accumulated so much wealth and did
not stop working hard in order to stabilize the political situation.
Recognizing Arguments
One of the purposes of logic is to distinguish passages that contain argument
from those that do not. If a passage claims to prove something and there are
reasons presented as support for the claim, then there it is an
argument. Otherwise there is no argument. To determine whether passages
contain arguments or not, two conditions must be met.
a. there must be a statement claimed to be supported by evidence.

b. there must be a statement presenting the evidence or reasons for the claim.

Because politicians are elected, they are accountable to the people.

The proposition Because politicians are elected is given as evidence or reason

(premise), and the proposition They are accountable to the people is claimed
as supported (conclusion) by the evidence or reason. The statement
expressing the support serves as the grounds for believing the conclusion. A
claim may be either explicit or implicit. An implicit claim may be made explicit
by using premise indicators or conclusion indicators. However, we must keep
in mind that their occurrence is not always decisive.

Since Sweet broke up with Ed, many students have shifted to nursing.

Since Sweet broke up with Ed, she lost enthusiasm for studying.

The first is not an argument but the second is although both make use of the
premise indicator “since.” Remember that the key point is inference. The
statements must show that there is really a connection between the claim being
made and the support for the claims. We can outline the basic structure of the
argument:

Q because P

To establish the truth of Q, it must be regarded as problematic; otherwise, there

is no need to establish its truth by means of the proof established by P. In this
case, “Q because P” constitutes an argument. If the truth of Q is unproblematic
but there is a need to explain it, then “Q because P” offers an explanation.

Identifying Non-arguments

One way to facilitate the identification of arguments is to differentiate them from

nonarguments. This is not easy especially when a passage contains no
argument indicators. For such a passage could simply be a series of
unsupported assertions rather than an argument. The following are typical
kinds of nonarguments:
1. Comparison – these are really compound statements which show the
similarity between two events or two instances. Even if there are indicators,
they are not really arguments.

Like wolves looking for preys, the terrorists plan their attacks with treachery.

Just as normal men would die without oxygen, so Baron would die without
smoking cigarettes.

2. Conditional Statement – this is the “if...then...” statement. Every conditional

statement is made up of two components: the “if” statement called the
antecedent and the “then” statement called the consequent.

It must be noted conditional statements are not arguments because in a

conditional statement what is asserted is not the truth of the components
(antecedent and consequent) but the truth of the connection between them
such that if the antecedent is true, then the consequent is also true. In an
argument, the premises are asserted to be true and the truth of the conclusion
is claimed to follow from them. Conditional statement may serve either as the
premise or the conclusion of an argument.

If the local government units were serious in regulating smoking in public

places, then they would have to pass stiffer penalties for its violations.
But local government units are serious in regulating smoking in public places.
Therefore, they have to pass stiffer penalties for its violations.

3. Description – this is a statement or a series of statements that causes a

certain image to appear in the mind of the reader.

One of the most well-known diseases in the present century and the leading
causes of men’s death is heart disease. Poor blood circulation leading to
abnormal heart beating and death of the heart muscle can be fatal.

4. Expository passage – this is a series of statements that aims to elaborate on

a certain topic by providing some descriptions that expand and develop the
topic. If there is no attempt to prove the topic sentence using the other
statements, it is not an argument.
Mothers are the most loving persons in the world. From the first moment of our
lives until the last, they will do everything for us. From changing diapers to
doing our milk in the wee hours of the morning, to changing, washing and
ironing our clothes, no other person can do it with such love and care.

5. Explanation – This is a statement or a series of statements that shows why

something is the case and not to prove that something is the case. The
component which does the explaining is called the explanans while the
component to be explained is called the explanandum. Often explanations are
mistaken for arguments because they often contain the indicator word
“because.”

For the third time, the impeachment complaint against the President was
dismissed because most of her allies voted against it.

Tuition free increases annually because the salaries of teachers must be

adjusted.

Adult humans can eat solid foods, while infants cannot, because their stomachs
are more developed than the latter.

Cows can digest grass, while humans cannot, because their digestive systems
contain enzymes not found in humans.

6. Illustration – this consists of a statement about a certain topic and followed by

statements showing instances that exemplify the statement. Illustrations are
different from arguments because they only give examples to clarify the point
whereas an argument proves the point.

Public demonstrations are often signs of dissatisfaction with the administration

of government. Thus, there are demonstrations at Mendiola, Plaza Miranda
and Batasan Hills.

Being at one with nature helps one attain peace of mind. Thus Edith Stein
often goes on hiking during weekends.

7. Opinions – These are statements of belief which express what a person

believes or thinks at a certain time. If there is no proof given for the opinion,
then there is no argument.
I think that this present government is morally bankrupt. As such, our present
leaders exemplify the worst politician one can be.

Being a teacher is better than being a nurse because it is easier to go abroad

and you can expect much better pay.

8. Recommendation – this is a statement that cites a basis for the action

prescribed. It is not an argument because it does not establish a claim.

The Dean of the Law School was totally impressed by the professional
excellence of Atty. Balleber. I therefore recommend him to be the next Dean of
the College.

9. Report – this consists of a group of statements that transmit information

about some happenings or event.

“The death toll from a bus bombing in a southern Philippine town rose to eight
yesterday, after three who were wounded died in the hospital overnight, police
said. The blast, which also wounded at least 14 people in Bansalan, Davao del
Sur Province, came about five minutes after a bomb went off inside a bus
owned by the same company in another southern city, causing little damage
and no injuries.” [Manila Bulletin, June 17, 2007]

10. Temporal sequence – this consists of a series of statements that describe a

series of events that chronologically follow one another. It is simply the
description that after an event has happened, several other followed later on.

Since Gloria Arroyo became president, the peso has steadily gained value
against the dollar and more opportunities to go abroad have been opened.

11. Warnings – these are discourses aimed at changing another person’s

behavior. When there is no reason given why a person should follow
something or not, it is not an argument.

Be careful. Strive to be happy. [Max Ehrman, Desiderata]

Keep out of reach of children.

Keep condoms. You never know when you need one.