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Mental
Constructing Arguments
Constructing an argument means linking premises, the reasons, to a conclusion so that others can see why the conclusion should be accepted.
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The idea
Constructing an argument means putting together reasons that lead to a conclusion. An argument is made of one or more premises, which are statements offered as reasons, and a conclusion, which is the point the premises are meant to support. The purpose of an argument is to give reasons for what you think, whether to justify it, explain it or persuade others.
To build an argument, start by stating your conclusion clearly. Then list the premises that support it, and check that each one is true and backed by evidence. Next, make sure the conclusion really follows from the premises. In a valid deductive argument, the premises make the conclusion necessary, and in a sound argument the premises are also true, so the conclusion must be true. Inductive arguments work differently, because they can only be stronger or weaker, making the conclusion more or less likely.
Arguments can be studied from three main perspectives. The logical view looks at whether the steps from premises to conclusion hold together. The dialectical view treats an argument as a way for two or more people to work through a disagreement. The rhetorical view adds an audience, along with the time and place where the argument is made. A careful arguer also thinks about objections and answers them, which makes the case more convincing.
Check yourself
Question 1 of 3
What are the statements offered as reasons in an argument called?
Composition
what it's made of
- Premises — The statements offered as reasons for accepting the conclusion.
- Conclusion — The main point that the premises are meant to support.
- Evidence — Facts, examples or data that show the premises are true.
- Inference — The logical step that links the premises to the conclusion.
- Counterarguments — Likely objections, which a strong argument answers.
Connection
how it relates
Under Critical Thinking
Change
how and why it evolves
- Past
- Since classical antiquity, philosophers and rhetoricians have made lists of argument types in which premises and conclusions are linked in informal ways.
- Now
- Today the logical study of arguments matters in fields such as mathematics and computer science. Everyday arguments, by contrast, are made in natural language rather than in formal symbols.
- Next
- As more information spreads online, the skill of building and checking arguments will probably stay important for schoolwork, jobs and public debate.