Introduction to Writing in Philosophy
Developing an Argument
The goal of an argument is not to pick a fight, but to offer effective ideas that will back up your claims with acceptable and reasonable rationale. Your argument should proceed throughout the whole paper, pertain to your thesis (see the sections on thesis statements and introductions below), and be supported by your conclusion.
Finding an argument in the texts you are reading
- Look for key words and phrases, such as:
- because
- x happens because of (since, for, due to) y
- if x, then y
- given that x, y follows
- because (since, due to) x, y is true
- thus, since, hence, therefore, consequently, it follows that
- Try to understand the author's point and how they defend or support it
- Is the author's argument effective? Spotting some flawed arguments
- If any of the author's premises are false, then his or her argument is flawed
- If the conclusions do not follow from the premises, the argument is not convincing, the conclusions are unwarranted and unsupported, and the argument as a whole may be false.
Writing Your Own Arguments
- Be sure always to show your reasoning.
- Use words such as 'thus,' 'therefore,' 'because,' and 'since' so as to show the relationships between the statements you make. (For example, the statements "I think, therefore I am," "I am, therefore I think," and "I think and I am" mean three different things. Be clear on which one you mean to convey.)
- Look over your arguments. Do you see any false premises, any conclusions that are not supported or proven by the premises, any assumptions that are unexplained or unsupported? Pretend that your argument was written by someone else. Would it still convince you that its conclusions are true? If not, what needs to be added or changed?