Chapter 7 Summary
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Jan 9, 2024
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Uploaded by DoctorKoalaPerson865
Sophie Phillips
Professor Afshari
Philosophy 110-04\
6 November 2023
Chapter 7 Summary
Ground: Chapter 7 of
Think Critically
written by Peter Facione and Carol Ann Gittens is
about how to evaluate arguments using four basic tests. The first of these four tests are the
truthfulness of the premises. This test is done by evaluating the premises of an argument to make
sure they are true. The second test is the test of logical strength. To test logical strength, we can
attempt to find a circumstance in which the conclusion is false, but all the premises are true and
if we can’t imagine a scenario then the argument passes the test. The third test is the test of
relevance. This test is performed by making sure the truth of the conclusion is dependent on the
truth of the reason we are given. The final test is the test of non-circularity. The claim passes this
test if it doesn’t rely on part of a chain of reasoning that is used to support its own reason. This
chapter also explains seven fallacies that are types of arguments that fail the test of relevance.
These seven errors of reasoning include the appeals to ignorance, appeals to the mob, appeals to
emotion, ad hominem attacks, the straw man fallacy, the playing with words fallacy, and the
misuse of authority fallacy.
Warrant: There are explanations and examples of each error of reasoning listed in this
chapter. The text defines the appeals to ignorance as, “It is false to assume that the mere absence
of a reason for (or against) an idea should itself count as a reason against (or for) the idea”
(Facione, Gittens, Ch. 7, Pg. 149). For appeals to the mob the text says, “It is false to assume that
because a large group of people believes something or does something that their opinion or their
behavior is necessarily correct or appropriate” (Facione, Gittens, Ch.7, Pg. 149). An example of
this error of reasoning is how popular superstitions are in our reality. For appeals to emotion the
chapter says, “But, at times, people offer fallacious arguments that provide nothing more by way
of a reason than an appeal to one’s unreflective emotional response” (Facione, Gittens, Ch.7 Pg.
149-150). Sometimes people's emotional responses affect fair-minded judgements. The chapter
continues to explain and provide examples of the four other errors of reasoning.
Claim: Using the four tests helps us evaluate the strength of people's arguments and we
can come to a conclusion of if they are true. If the argument satisfies these four tests, we can
define the argument as a good argument or worthy argument. A sound argument is one that
passes the Test of Logical Strength, and we can accept that the argument's conclusion is true or
probably true. But fallacies can be disguised as these good and worthy arguments. Strong critical
thinkers can find these fallacies and possibly define them as one of the seven fallacies of
relevance. If we can recognize fallacious arguments, we can prevent being misled by these
arguments.
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