Argumentation notes

Argumentation notes:

Arguments about causes:

1) Causes - they start with correlations. Example, "Students who sit in front of the class get higher grades." "The cock crows so the sun rises." While trying to explain "x", you have to correlate it to "y". Two events tied together. This leads to this and so this is the result. What we must look at though, is that it may be really backwards. The sun rises and so the cock crows. Or the students who get higher grades get them because they sit in the front of the class.

2) Correlations may have alternative explanations. They can be compelling. But the correlation could be wrong. The case could have multiplied answers. The correlation doesn't prove the case just because they're related. Sometimes the end proves the cause. Inverse relationship. "People who meditate are calmer." Flip it. Maybe calmer people are drawn to meditation. Look for a deeper cause for the cause. A cause for the cause of the point. The word, "therefore" shows us the correlation. "The violence on TV effects the society to be more violent." Maybe it is the society that is shaping all the violence that ends up on TV.

3) Work for the most likely explanation. It may not be clear, but there may be a different explanation. It may not be what it first appears to be. Look deeper. Most times, it is hidden. This is what anyone has to do because it is just human nature to hide the truth.

4) Expect complexity. If it's under complex or over complex, you should understand that it's probably wrong or the person is trying to blow smoke. Anything that's too good to be true, or too simple to be true probably isn't. It will be hard to get into a regulation about it, but in order to get the whole story straight, you must always go looking for the truth.

You must ask questions and probe: Is their correlation relevant? What causes this? Why did that happen?

Try to stay away from "always" and "never". Those show huge generalization.