3). Pick one concept from the assigned reading (chapter 15), that we have not already discussed, that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.
The concept that I found most interesting in chapter 15 of the Epstein text was "the cause makes a difference." The Epstein text presented an example about a guy name Dr. E who has a fear of elephants. Dr. E believes that if he put up a wind chime on his door, the elephants would stay away. He lives in a very high sea level in Cedar City, Utah in a desert. He believes that the wind chime works cause he has not seen any elephants but it is clear to see that no elephants would ever be near his house. Since he has never seen an elephant since he put up his wind chimes he believes his theory works. But really the wind chime has made no difference. For there to be an effect, there needs to be a cause. "If the cause hadn't occurred, there wouldn't be the effect. Since no elephant appeared in his presence, no effect was created. It is good that we check that the cause makes a difference so we would not look over any other possible cause.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Mission Critical
2). What was useful about the Mission Critical website?
The Mission Critical website was extremely useful because it was very in depth and easy to understand. The outline was so clear and each bullet point directed to a link when clicked upon. This website simply simplified the Epstein Text in one page through links. If one were to use the Epstein book they would have to check the contents and flip through pages to find a certain concept, while this website allows a person to browse through any concept easily. There were many exercises that were provided where I could practice on. The exercises were really helpful too because if I did it wrong the website would correct me and provide me with the right answer and why I got it wrong. Overall, this website is very clear and easy to understand and it is also very descriptive. I believe this website provides many information that one can use as a study guide for tests and for factual information.
The Mission Critical website was extremely useful because it was very in depth and easy to understand. The outline was so clear and each bullet point directed to a link when clicked upon. This website simply simplified the Epstein Text in one page through links. If one were to use the Epstein book they would have to check the contents and flip through pages to find a certain concept, while this website allows a person to browse through any concept easily. There were many exercises that were provided where I could practice on. The exercises were really helpful too because if I did it wrong the website would correct me and provide me with the right answer and why I got it wrong. Overall, this website is very clear and easy to understand and it is also very descriptive. I believe this website provides many information that one can use as a study guide for tests and for factual information.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Cause and Effect
What was useful about the Cause and Effect website reading and exercises?
The Cause and Effect website reading was very useful. It was much more simplified than the Epstein text and it used one example and went in depth with that. The example was clear and easy to understand and it was also broken down to different parts. The example was about a case case about a bicyclist, illegally parked car, and another car. The truck was illegally parked in the bike lane so the bicyclist had to move to another lane to pass it while a car behind it didn't have time to stop and smashes into the bicyclist. This case is taken to court to settle whose fault it is. Each lawyers can make their own claims about whose fault it is so many claims can be made.
Bicyclists lawyer's claim: If it wasn't for the illegally parked car, the bicyclists wouldn't have to switch lanes to pass it. Therefore, the bicyclist could have stayed in his or her lane and prevented the accident.
First driver lawyer's claim: It's the bicyclist's fault for his or her action that caused the client to slam on the brakes.
Second driver lawyer's claim: It's the first driver fault because the sudden stop caused the client to smash into its back.
These claims are all casual arguments that uses a mixture of "difference" and "commonality" reasoning. These casual arguments show that there is only one significant difference. Overall, this reading was clear and easy to understand because the example was descriptive and easy to analyze.
The Cause and Effect website reading was very useful. It was much more simplified than the Epstein text and it used one example and went in depth with that. The example was clear and easy to understand and it was also broken down to different parts. The example was about a case case about a bicyclist, illegally parked car, and another car. The truck was illegally parked in the bike lane so the bicyclist had to move to another lane to pass it while a car behind it didn't have time to stop and smashes into the bicyclist. This case is taken to court to settle whose fault it is. Each lawyers can make their own claims about whose fault it is so many claims can be made.
Bicyclists lawyer's claim: If it wasn't for the illegally parked car, the bicyclists wouldn't have to switch lanes to pass it. Therefore, the bicyclist could have stayed in his or her lane and prevented the accident.
First driver lawyer's claim: It's the bicyclist's fault for his or her action that caused the client to slam on the brakes.
Second driver lawyer's claim: It's the first driver fault because the sudden stop caused the client to smash into its back.
These claims are all casual arguments that uses a mixture of "difference" and "commonality" reasoning. These casual arguments show that there is only one significant difference. Overall, this reading was clear and easy to understand because the example was descriptive and easy to analyze.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Analogies in the Law
3). Pick one concept or idea from the assigned reading, that we have not already discussed, that you found useful or interesting, and discuss it.
In chapter 12 of the Epstein text the discussion of analogies in the law was brought up. In law, analogies are used as detailed and carefully analyzed arguments. It is also used with the important similarities pointed out and a general principle stated. Very often, many laws are vague or a situation would occur where one would not considered to be covered by the law. According to an excerpt by Edward H. Levi, reasoning by example is considered to be the basic pattern of legal reasoning. There is a three-step process in which a proposition descriptive of the first case is made into a rule of law and then applied to a next similar situation.
First Step: similarity is seen between cases
Second Step: next the rule of law inherent in the first case is announced
Third Step: the rule of law is made applicable to the second case
In chapter 12 of the Epstein text the discussion of analogies in the law was brought up. In law, analogies are used as detailed and carefully analyzed arguments. It is also used with the important similarities pointed out and a general principle stated. Very often, many laws are vague or a situation would occur where one would not considered to be covered by the law. According to an excerpt by Edward H. Levi, reasoning by example is considered to be the basic pattern of legal reasoning. There is a three-step process in which a proposition descriptive of the first case is made into a rule of law and then applied to a next similar situation.
First Step: similarity is seen between cases
Second Step: next the rule of law inherent in the first case is announced
Third Step: the rule of law is made applicable to the second case
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Difficulty understanding a specific type of reasoning...
2). Sometimes when something is difficult to understand, it becomes a bit clearer when we try to explain it to someone else. Which type of reasoning was most difficult to understand? Please do some additional internet research on that specific type of reasoning and discuss what you learned.
This week's blog was a little bit challenging to write because there were no specific text from the textbook to refer to. I had to go on the web and search for answers and help myself. I had the most difficult time understanding deductive reasoning out of all the different types of reasoning given. As I looked further through the web I found a better understanding of what deductive reasoning is. Deduction starts with an assumed hypothesis or theory. This assumption may be well-accepted or it may be a bit shaky. Deduction reasoning is usually used by scientists who take a general scientific law and apply it to a certain case. In most cases they assume the law is true. Deduction reasoning can be used to test induction reasoning. Deductive reasoning assumes that the basic law from which you are arguing is applicable in all cases.
Example: There is a law against smoking. You should stop smoking now.
The assumed hypothesis in this example is that there is a law against smoking. Some people may accept this law but others may just reject it.
This week's blog was a little bit challenging to write because there were no specific text from the textbook to refer to. I had to go on the web and search for answers and help myself. I had the most difficult time understanding deductive reasoning out of all the different types of reasoning given. As I looked further through the web I found a better understanding of what deductive reasoning is. Deduction starts with an assumed hypothesis or theory. This assumption may be well-accepted or it may be a bit shaky. Deduction reasoning is usually used by scientists who take a general scientific law and apply it to a certain case. In most cases they assume the law is true. Deduction reasoning can be used to test induction reasoning. Deductive reasoning assumes that the basic law from which you are arguing is applicable in all cases.
Example: There is a law against smoking. You should stop smoking now.
The assumed hypothesis in this example is that there is a law against smoking. Some people may accept this law but others may just reject it.
Reasonings
1). Read through the different types of reasoning posted to the instructors blog. Give an example of each type of reasoning outlined on the instructors blog. The example should be something the folks in class can relate to, so try to use real world examples.
1. Reasoning by analogy: If a conclusion to one side of an argument is made then the conclusion on the other side should conclude the same.
Ex: Eating before riding a roller coaster will cause a person to puke. Emily ate a hot dog before she rode the roller coaster, therefore she'll probably puke.
2. Sign Reasoning: Assumes one thing or event is a reliable indicator of another thing or event.
3. Causal Reasoning: Reasoning between a cause and the effects.
Ex: Samantha did not put on sun screen before she went to the beach. Therefore, she got sun burned.
4. Criteria Reasoning: Criteria by which the outcome of a decision will be judged, and then identify the best decision.
Ex: If you do not take out the trash when it gets full then it will pile up and make your home smell. So you should take out your trash every so often.
5. Reasoning by example: using examples in an argument.
Ex: You should go out more often. I have a friend who used to stay in and was never really happy.
6. Inductive Reasoning: starting from specifics and deriving a general rule.
Ex: All of your friends are good. You can be good, too.
7. Deductive Reasoning: starting from the general rule and moving to specifics.
Ex: Gravity makes things fall. The apple that hit my head was due to gravity.
1. Reasoning by analogy: If a conclusion to one side of an argument is made then the conclusion on the other side should conclude the same.
Ex: Eating before riding a roller coaster will cause a person to puke. Emily ate a hot dog before she rode the roller coaster, therefore she'll probably puke.
2. Sign Reasoning: Assumes one thing or event is a reliable indicator of another thing or event.
| Ex: | Where there is a school, there is a student. |
3. Causal Reasoning: Reasoning between a cause and the effects.
Ex: Samantha did not put on sun screen before she went to the beach. Therefore, she got sun burned.
4. Criteria Reasoning: Criteria by which the outcome of a decision will be judged, and then identify the best decision.
Ex: If you do not take out the trash when it gets full then it will pile up and make your home smell. So you should take out your trash every so often.
5. Reasoning by example: using examples in an argument.
Ex: You should go out more often. I have a friend who used to stay in and was never really happy.
6. Inductive Reasoning: starting from specifics and deriving a general rule.
Ex: All of your friends are good. You can be good, too.
7. Deductive Reasoning: starting from the general rule and moving to specifics.
Ex: Gravity makes things fall. The apple that hit my head was due to gravity.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Appeal to Fear
3). Pick one concept from the assigned reading this week, not already discussed, that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.
The concept, appeal to fear captured my attention in chapter 10. An appeal to fear is another form of appeal to emotion. It is when a person attempts to create support for an idea by using deception and propaganda. One uses these tactics to increase fear and prejudice toward a competitor. The use of appeal to fear is common in marketing and politics.
This fallacy has the following argument form:
Either A or B is true.
B is scary.
Therefore, A is true.
Examples of an appeal to fear:
-If you keep drinking, you will die early as your cousin did.
-If you tell a lie, no one will ever believe you again.
-If you don't graduate from college, you will not be successful.
-If you wear that dress tonight, you will look like a swan.
All these examples is an appeal to fear because many people would fear if any of these examples were said or were to come true. An appeal to pity is used in every day life and when used correctly, it can be a strong arguemnt.
The concept, appeal to fear captured my attention in chapter 10. An appeal to fear is another form of appeal to emotion. It is when a person attempts to create support for an idea by using deception and propaganda. One uses these tactics to increase fear and prejudice toward a competitor. The use of appeal to fear is common in marketing and politics.
This fallacy has the following argument form:
Either A or B is true.
B is scary.
Therefore, A is true.
Examples of an appeal to fear:
-If you keep drinking, you will die early as your cousin did.
-If you tell a lie, no one will ever believe you again.
-If you don't graduate from college, you will not be successful.
-If you wear that dress tonight, you will look like a swan.
All these examples is an appeal to fear because many people would fear if any of these examples were said or were to come true. An appeal to pity is used in every day life and when used correctly, it can be a strong arguemnt.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Bad Appeal to Pity
Pertaining to page 195, complete objective 1, 2, 3, 6 OR 7.
1. Bad Appeal to Pity
Jim: I'm 25 years old and I don't have a job. I am also forced to live with my parents who makes me cook my own food. Can you donate some money to me so I can move out of my parents apartment?
Mike: No, you should find a job and make your own money so you can move out of your parents apartment.
Jim's argument is a bad appeal to pity for many reasons. First off he is 25 years old which means he can go find his own job or try to make money somehow. Secondly, he is not forced to live with his parents and he should be able to cook his own food. Having to cook his own food is not a good enough pity to take upon someone. Anyone would be foolish to donate money to Jim for the reasons that he needs the money for. The argument could have been stronger if he needed the money for a better cause or we knew more valid reasons of why he doe not have a job.
1. Bad Appeal to Pity
Jim: I'm 25 years old and I don't have a job. I am also forced to live with my parents who makes me cook my own food. Can you donate some money to me so I can move out of my parents apartment?
Mike: No, you should find a job and make your own money so you can move out of your parents apartment.
Jim's argument is a bad appeal to pity for many reasons. First off he is 25 years old which means he can go find his own job or try to make money somehow. Secondly, he is not forced to live with his parents and he should be able to cook his own food. Having to cook his own food is not a good enough pity to take upon someone. Anyone would be foolish to donate money to Jim for the reasons that he needs the money for. The argument could have been stronger if he needed the money for a better cause or we knew more valid reasons of why he doe not have a job.
Appeal to Emotion
1). Discuss the idea of Appeal to Emotion. There are different aspects of Appeal to Emotion, which type of Appeal to Emotion strikes you, and why?
There are many kind of emotions that a person can experience. In arguments, emotions plays a huge role. An appeal to emotion uses the manipulation of the recipient's emotions, rather than valid logic, to win an argument. There are a couple kinds of appeal to emotions such as; appealing to fear and appealing to pity. In this chapter, the appeal to pity catches my attention the most because I have experienced it a lot before. An appeal to pity is a fallacy in which someone tries to win support for an argument or idea by exploiting his or her opponent's feelings of pity or guilt.
An example of an appeal to pity:
The ASPCA has made many commercials that appealed to pity. A majority of their commercials shows pictures of sad and injured looking dogs and or cats with a sad background song to tag a long. These commercials allows the viewers to feel pity for the poor animals so that they can donate money to the organization. The commercials are pretty convincing because they have really vivid pictures of animals that are injured looking. For example, I have seen one commercial where there was a dog with three legs.
There are many kind of emotions that a person can experience. In arguments, emotions plays a huge role. An appeal to emotion uses the manipulation of the recipient's emotions, rather than valid logic, to win an argument. There are a couple kinds of appeal to emotions such as; appealing to fear and appealing to pity. In this chapter, the appeal to pity catches my attention the most because I have experienced it a lot before. An appeal to pity is a fallacy in which someone tries to win support for an argument or idea by exploiting his or her opponent's feelings of pity or guilt.
An example of an appeal to pity:
The ASPCA has made many commercials that appealed to pity. A majority of their commercials shows pictures of sad and injured looking dogs and or cats with a sad background song to tag a long. These commercials allows the viewers to feel pity for the poor animals so that they can donate money to the organization. The commercials are pretty convincing because they have really vivid pictures of animals that are injured looking. For example, I have seen one commercial where there was a dog with three legs.
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