Arguments occur all the time due to the face that people have different opinions and feelings towards certain situations. If people had the same ideas then everyone would just agree on everything and arguments would not exist; life would be boring! After reading chapter 3, we learn from Epstein that arguments are valid or successful when the conclusion is false, in which there is no possible way for the premises to be true. To determine an argument to be strong, its premise has a possiblity of being true, but its conclusion is still leading to be false.
An example of a strong argument is: "People are more successful when they go to college."
In a lot of cases its premise is true. There have been many students that have graduated college and have become successful in their careers. On the other hand, college is not for everyone; therefore, the conculsion of the argument is false. Some people that have not attended college, still manage to become successful in life as well.
An example of a valid argument is: "I am not allergic to chicken." This is personally something I have just learned; I absolutely love to eat chicken, but my body has been rejecting it. I can always try to eat it but the conclusion will alway be true and lead to breaking out in rashes. :(
I really liked your example about college not being for everyone. I have this argument with my Mom and family all the time. Is college worth it? I try to use the strong argument that college is a scam because all the universities want is your money. And when someone does graduate, he or she is in nothing but a pile of debt with no job, or if he or she does a job, the pay is next to nothing. My Mother tries to use her valid argument about how in the end college will serve me right because I will be able to further my career and find a better salary paying job. Really? I do not believe this at all.
ReplyDeleteGreat examples. Going to college is really beneficial because graduating and having a college degree gives people the advantage of getting a job first before people who do not have a college degree. On the other hand, not having a college degree doesn't mean a person won't be successful at life. For example, Kobe Bryant, he doesn't have a college degree because he got in the NBA right after his highschool, but he has been successful at life because he is considered as the best basketball player in the world now because of his accomplishments and the way he leads his teammates and team. Another one is Manny Pacquiao, he doesn't have a college degree but he is successful at life due to his domination in boxing this past decade. He has accomplished and set the record in boxing to win 8 titles in 8 different weight divisions. These two athletes are multimillionaires with no college degree.
ReplyDeleteHey you have good and true examples that demonstrate the meanings of a strong argument and a valid argument. A strong argument just like you said could have a premise that is true, but there is a possibility that the conclusion can be false. Relating to your argument people do not have to attend college to be successsful in life, there are other possible ways for a person to be successful in life. Like being an athlete, or having a network of people that help you find a successful job. So other factors rather than going to college can lead to a successful and happy life for many.
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