Discussion Question #3- Week 13

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 normal conditions- for a causal claim, the normal conditions are the obvious and plausible unstated claims that are needed to establish that the relationship between purported cause and purported effect is valid or strong. In an argument, we need additional premises other known as normal conditions to show that the inference is valid or strong.

I found it interesting that for there to be cause and effect, there is no possible way for the cause to be true and the effect to be false- which as explained is the same with premises and conclusion of an argument. Therefore, when using additional premises in an argument, these premises will establish a correlation of generalization of determining the cause and effect. 

Another thing I found interesting is that because the normal conditions cannot be specified for a general causal claim, statistical arguments are used to establish that there is some link between the cause an effect. There are three different concepts that are used for these arguments that I found very interesting to read into.

Discussion Question #2- Week 13

2). What was useful about the Mission Critical webiste?

When I first opened this page, it was very overwhelming because there were so many links to click on for reasoning and explanations for each and every point made.

However, after clicking on the different sections and descriptions of each point made, it was very useful and helpful to understand in depth rather than just an example.

I found it very helpful that in every section of explanation there were multiple examples that gave a clear and precise underlined definition of each concept. Also, I really enjoyed reading about the different parts of an argument, analysis of an argument and the different fallacies- There was so much different information within these topics that I didn’t know about or it was different than what I had read about them before.

In comparison to the Cause and Effect website, that was merely just for understanding and exercises. The Mission Critical website, I would say was easier to understand and there were more explanations of each point.  

Discussion Question #1- Week 13

1). What was useful about the Cause and Effect website reading and exercises?

While reading the Cause Effect Website provided for this question, it was easy to understand and easy to paint a picture in my head about the situation that was explained as an example of a causal argument. As it was stated in this explanation, one of the most important uses for inductive reasoning is to argue causation. This is very true- in all cases, especially in situation where fingers can be pointed to different people.

It was very useful to read this introduction to Causal Arguments to get a clear explanation of what and how exactly cause and effect occur in different situation while arguing causation. It was helpful to somewhat see the arguments mapped out and to be informed in what comes next.

The exercises from this website were very helpful because it gave me a better understanding of how causal arguments and arguing causation can be used in different contexts. 

Discussion Question #3- Week 12

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.

Judging an analogy was very interesting to me. After reading about the different examples of how to evaluate analogies, it was clear to me that there were different ways to conclude whether the argument is strong/weak. When evaluating an analogy there are specific things to pay attention to: whether the statement is an argument, what is the conclusion, what is the comparison, what are the premises, what are the similarities, is there a general principle that covers both sides, does the general principle apply to both sides, and is the argument strong or valid?

After all, an analogy is the comparison between two things, typically on the basis of their structure and for the purpose of explanation or clarification. Therefore, reasoning by analogy is the comparison on one side where we draw the conclusion, so on the other side we conclude the same thing. When judging analogies it is important to realize that its not a valid argument when one side is like the other side, there needs to be reasoning. 

Discussion Question #2- Week 12

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.

http://www.experiment-resources.com/causal-reasoning.html

Causal Reasoning was more difficult for me to understand because the definition through the website we were given was hard to understand. After researching and finding my own information on causal reasoning which was a lot easier for me to understand, the idea is that any cause leads to an effect.

The website that helped me understand causal reasoning is attached. They used the scientific process to explain causal reasoning; which helped me understand how it could be explained step by step. For example: starting with a hypothesis then scientists will predict, then observe and test predictions, then comes induction. Through this process, by eliminating the predictions that will not work for this hypothesis, it can be determined what causes the effect other wise known as the hypothesis. 

Discussion Question #1- Week 12

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. 


Reasoning by analogy- My friend got her nails done at a nail salon called Starlight Nails, and they did a great job on her nails. This is reason enough that they would do a good job on my nails. 


Sign Reasoning- The fire alarm is going off in the kitchen as I'm cooking, therefore the food is burning. 


Casual Reasoning- I went out to dinner with my family at this really good italian restaurant. We all shared an appetizer and ordered our own meal and desert. Everyone got sick, therefore the appetizer is what made everyone sick. 


Reasoning by Criteria- My mom favorite flower is a rose, so i gave her roses for her birthday. 


Reasoning by Example- You should learn how to drive. One of my friends didn't have her license or know how to drive so she was relying on others to drive her around all the time. 


Inductive- Every day i wake up and take a shower before i leave my house, so tomorrow when i wake up i will take a shower then i can do what i want. 


Deductive- Every student in school must do their homework in order to pass the class and get a good grade. Therefore, if a student does not do their homework they will not pass the class and will get a horrible grade.