Premises

Definition

Premises are the starting points or assumptions from which an argument or line of reasoning is built. They serve as the foundation upon which a conclusion is reached. Premises are crucial in both the context of reading philosophy and identifying informal fallacies.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Premises are the supporting claims or statements that are used to justify or provide evidence for a conclusion.
2. The strength of an argument's premises directly impacts the validity and soundness of the overall argument.
3. Identifying and evaluating the premises of an argument is a crucial step in the process of reading and understanding philosophical texts.
4. Informal fallacies often arise from flawed or unsupported premises, leading to logically invalid or unsound arguments.
5. Carefully examining the premises of an argument is necessary to determine whether the conclusion follows logically from the given information.

Review Questions

• Explain how the concept of premises relates to the process of reading and understanding philosophical texts.
  • When reading philosophical texts, it is essential to identify the premises, or the underlying assumptions and supporting claims, upon which the author's arguments are built. By carefully examining the premises, the reader can better evaluate the logical validity and soundness of the argument, as well as the strength of the evidence provided to support the conclusion. Understanding the role of premises is crucial in effectively engaging with and critically analyzing philosophical arguments.
• Describe how the concept of premises is connected to the identification of informal fallacies.
  • Informal fallacies often arise from flawed or unsupported premises. When an argument contains premises that are either logically invalid, factually inaccurate, or lack sufficient evidence, the resulting conclusion may be fallacious, even if the logical structure of the argument appears valid. Identifying and scrutinizing the premises of an argument is a key step in recognizing and avoiding informal fallacies, as it allows the reader to assess the strength and validity of the underlying assumptions upon which the argument is based.
• Evaluate how the relationship between premises and conclusions can impact the overall strength and persuasiveness of an argument.
  • The premises of an argument serve as the foundation upon which the conclusion is built. If the premises are strong, well-supported, and logically valid, the conclusion will be more compelling and persuasive. Conversely, if the premises are weak, unsupported, or logically flawed, the conclusion will be less convincing, even if the logical structure of the argument appears sound. The strength of the premises, therefore, is a crucial factor in determining the overall strength and persuasiveness of an argument, as the conclusion can only be as strong as the premises upon which it is based.

Related terms

Conclusion:

The end point or final claim that an argument is attempting to establish, based on the provided premises.

Inference:

The process of drawing a conclusion or making a logical deduction from the given premises.

Validity:

The logical strength of an argument, determined by whether the conclusion necessarily follows from the premises.