Philosphy Terms

PHILOSOPHY TERMS

UNIT 1-3:

Issue: Is any matter that is in dispute or about which there is some question. It can be in dispute between two or more parties or it can just be a decision that one has to make on one's own.

Argument: occurs when someone tries to prove a point or establish the truth of a claim by presenting reasons or evidence for it.

Conclusion: The claim that the argument is meant to establish.

Premises: The claims offered as reasons for the conclusion.

Rhetorical Power: A speaker or piece of writing has this strength when the speaker or piece of writing can convince others of what is said or written. Sometimes a person's rhetorical power comes from their excellent reasoning. (After all, reading good reasons for a claim is often what persuades us to believe a claim.) The important point to note is that one can have rhetorical power even if one has no good arguments at all.

Rational Strength: An argument has this strength when it provides good reason to believe its conclusion, even if it does not always persuade people.

Slanters: Words and phrases meant to be persuasive without presenting any argument.

Euphemisms: Are neutral or positive expressions used as substitutes for words that carry negative associations. For example, saying 'he passed away' instead of saying 'he died' is using a euphemism. Euphemisms are used to make something more attractive, or soften the blow, or to be polite.

Dysphemisms: The opposite of euphemisms are dysphemisms. These are expressions used to promote a negative reaction towards something.

Persuasive comparisons: Drawing a comparison between two things can be used to influence attitudes by implying that there are similarities between the two things without actually proving that these similarities exist.

Persuasive definitions: One can use definitions persuasively by smuggling prejudices into the definition itself. Persuasive definitions often use the words 'real' or 'true' in them.

Persuasive explanations: When one uses a persuasive explanation, one tries to influence people's beliefs by giving a slanted explanation.

Stereotypes: This slanter is one that most of you will know. A stereotype is an oversimplified generalization about a particular group. Stereotypes are based on the presumption that each member of the class has some set of properties that is identified with the class.

Innuendo: This slanter is used when one insinuates something without actually coming right out and saying it.

Loaded Question: You know that a question is a loaded