The document discusses the key components of arguments, including propositions, premises, and conclusions. Propositions make claims that are either true or false. The conclusion of an argument is the proposition that is supported by the premises. Premises provide backing for the conclusion and can appear in various orders. Examples are used to illustrate simple arguments with one premise and conclusion as well as more complex arguments with multiple propositions.

1. Prepared by Nisha Nair

2.  Propositions are the building blocks of our reasoning.
 In reasoning we construct & evaluate arguments.
 Arguments are build with propositions
 Propositions asserts something is/ or not the case.
 Must be either true or false
 Claims are made through propositions
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3.  The conclusion of an argument is the proposition that is affirmed on the basis of
the other propositions of the argument.
 Those other propositions, which are affirmed (or assumed) as providing support
for the conclusion, are the premises of the argument.
 The simplest kind of argument consists of one premise and a conclusion that is
claimed to follow from it.
No one was present when life first appeared on earth.
Therefore any statement about life’s origins should be considered as theory, not
fact
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4.  The order in which premises and conclusion appear can also vary, but it is not
critical in determining the quality of the argument.
 It is common for the conclusion of an argument to precede the statement of its
premise or premises.
Example: Every law is an evil, for every law is an infraction of liberty.
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5. No one was present when life first appeared on earth.
Therefore any statement about life’s origin should
considered as theory , not fact.
Since it turns out that all humans are descended from
a small number of African ancestors in our recent
evolutionary past, believing in profound differences
between the races is as ridiculous as believeing in a
flat earth.
Every law is evil, for every law is an infraction of
liberty
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8. This area has become well-known, but for
unfortunate reasons. The junction of Green Road
and Mill Street has been the site of over a dozen
major road traffic accidents in the last five years as
drivers take the corner too quickly. A local artist
has made a rather grim photographic record of all
the main accidents that have taken place. Some
tourists have been victims. New spread cameras
have now been placed at the corner of the road and
this will reduce the number of accidents. 11/3/2022 8

9. This area has become well-known, but for
unfortunate reasons. The junction of Green Road
and Mill Street has been the site of over a dozen
major road traffic accidents in the last five years as
drivers take the corner too quickly. A local artist
has made a rather grim photographic record of all
the main accidents that have taken place. Some
tourists have been victims. New spread cameras
have now been placed at the corner of the road and
this will reduce the number of accidents.
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10. The junction of Green Road and Mill Street has
been the site of over a dozen major road traffic
accidents in the last five years as drivers take the
corner too quickly. New spread cameras have now
been placed at the corner of the road and this will
reduce the number of accidents.
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11.  Proposition 1: Many road traffic accidents occur at the junction of Green Road and
Mill street.
 Proposition 2: Drivers take the corer too quickly
 Proposition 3: New Speed cameras are in place at the junction.
 Conclusion: There should now be fewer accidents.
 Over all argument: Speed cameras will reduce the number of accidents at the
junction.
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12.  I like that picture. The colours create the powerful effect of a sunset, which is
pleasant to look at. The figures are interesting and very well drawn. It is a good
picture.
 Quantum physics has identified many more dimensions than height, width, depth
and time, which most people are familiar with. Such research can take a long
time. Discoveries have also on made on other aspects of the time space continuum.
 The train is late. There must have been a signal failure.
 The eclipse was expected over Scotland at 9 am yesterday. Lots of people turned
up. The Sky was still visible when they arrived but it became cloudy. When you
watch an eclipse, you have to protect your eyes and you mus’nt look directly at the
sun
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13.  Arguments are sometimes obscure because one (or more) of their constituent
propositions is not stated but is assumed to be understood.
Example: The first argument on capital punishement:
If the proponent of the death penalty is incorrect in his belief that the [death]
penalty deters homicide, then he is responsible for the execution of murderers who
should not be executed.
This argument relies on the unstated second premise: “No one should be executed to
advance an objective that is not promoted by execution.” Hence one who mistakenly
believes that the objective (deterring murders) is achieved by executing those
convicted is responsible for the execution of murderers who should not be executed.
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14. The second argument on death penalty:
 If the opponent of the death penalty is incorrect in his belief that the death
penalty doesn’t deter, he is responsible for the murder of innocent individuals who
would not have been murdered if the death penalty had been invoked.
 This argument relies on the unstated second premise: “Protecting the lives of
innocent individuals from murder justifies the execution of murderers if other
murderers are then deterred by the fear of execution.” Hence one who mistakenly
believes that the death penalty does not deter murderers is responsible for the
lives of innocents who are subsequently murdered..
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