Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Defining "Arguments"

***For our first assignment in my English Composition II class, we were required to write a short essay describing what the word, "argument" meant to us. We could use various means. The English Department here at the University of South Florida suggested of thinking of arguments in our past or utilizing a comparison between written arguments and, say, the arguments presented by advertisements like billboards. In ways, I built off the latter, but I think I took this in my own direction. Enjoy: ****





The topic for this essay is an interesting one as I am currently enrolled in an “Introduction to Logic” class. Logic, as defined by Patrick Hurley, is the “science of arguments.” Thinking of arguments in this context (and contrasting a written argument from the logical arguments referred to here), allows us to better understand exactly what an argument is.

In logic, an argument is a group of statements that attempt to prove the validity of some conclusion. The written argument is nearly the same. While the scientific and mathematic basis of logic dictates one to use simple and concise statements that very obviously prove a point, the written argument differs as it has the ability to employ acts of persuasion and rhetoric to enhance its attempt to prove some validity. Of course, written arguments can also be used to dispute the validity of a conclusion as well. It is the more complex nature of the written argument that makes it so much more interesting then the relative simplicity of the logical argument.

The statement that closed the preceding paragraph can work as a helpful example in defining “argument.” That statement was comparative in nature and allows one to dispute its truth. How one goes about making that dispute would be their “argument.” As stated, my opinion was that written arguments are more interesting then their logical counterparts. The argument would be all the persuasive data and ideas that I would use to not only back that statement but to, also, persuade someone to believe the statement’s validity. An example of an argument in this case may be something like the following: “Written arguments are more interesting then logical ones because they allow the person in defense to employ the use of adjectives and adverbs and, thus, create a much more descriptive and ideologically persuasive thought then allowed by logical statements.”

Of course, there are many more examples of arguments other then the two types that we have examined: written and logical. However, the contrasts that exist between the two work to create an ideal scenario to allow for the complete understanding of what an “argument” is. While they are different in many ways, it is their common purpose (to prove or refute a validity or opinion) that shines as the working definition of an argument.






1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am assuming in your assignment(argument) that the written word is more powerful and more decriptive and than a scientific one.

I agree, only because in the scientific one it only gives you the pure facts
as the written one gives the writer the ability to elaberate on his subject and give room for argument!
You are very logical!!!!

8:48 AM, August 30, 2006  

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