Argument

     Argument is a type of discourse that attempts to convince an audience by means of logical reasoning that a particular claim is true. Logical reasoning is usually composed of syllogisms that are either directly or indirectly expressed. In formal logic, syllogistic reasoning consists of a major premise (“Every registered citizen eighteen or over is eligible to vote”); a minor premise (“Elizabeth is an eighteen-year-old registered citizen”); and a conclusion (“Therefore, Elizabeth is eligible to vote”). The formula is usually: “All P is Q”; “R is P”; “Therefore, R is Q.”
     A well-constructed syllogism leads to a necessary conclusion. But even though the conclusion may be valid (it logically follows from the premises), it is not necessarily factually correct or true. For example, someone may argue: “In Nevada any resident ten years of age or over can obtain a driver’s permit,” and “Since Bruce is a ten-year-old Nevada resident, he can obtain a permit to drive.” The conclusion would be valid but true only if the major premise were true, which it (fortunately) is not. Many of our every day arguments are constructed from major premises that require proof or verification or are merely assertions of opinion. Thus, someone who starts with the premise “Cloning a human being is morally wrong” could arrive at all kinds of valid conclusions (for example, that such and such a scientist or laboratory is unethical, that grants for cloning research should be prohibited). But the starting premise here is only an assertion of opinion that itself requires proof. In most discourse, syllogisms are not expressed directly in the rigid structure just outlined, but rather more casually, often with premises or conclusions implied. An audience’s task in evaluating an argument usually entails reconstructing the latent syllogism by supplying the missing portions to make sure the conclusion really does follow from the premises.


Copyright 2002
Atwan, Robert. Convergences. Boston:Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2002.