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Basic Critical Thinking Skills. Essentials of Clear Thinking: Claims and Issues. Notes on Claims. A claim is a statement that is either true or false, though this cannot always be determined at any particular time. . Notes on Claims.
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Basic Critical Thinking Skills Essentials of Clear Thinking: Claims and Issues
Notes on Claims • A claim is a statement that is either true or false, though this cannot always be determined at any particular time.
Notes on Claims • A claim is a statement that is either true or false, though this cannot always be determined at any particular time. Claim: Al Gore received a majority of the popular vote in the 2000 election. Claim: Unprotected sex will kill you. Claim: God loves us. Not a claim: Got milk?
Notes on Claims • A claim is a statement that is either true or false, though this cannot always be determined at any particular time. • Claims about matters of opinion are either truthful or not.
Notes on Claims • A claim is a statement that is either true or false, though this cannot always be determined at any particular time. • Claims about matters of opinion are either truthful or not. That color looks really good on you. One should always tell the truth.
Notes on Claims • A claim is a statement that is either true or false, though this cannot always be determined at any particular time. • Claims about matters of opinion are either truthful or not. • Accepting a claim means taking it as true.
Notes on Claims • A claim is a statement that is either true or false, though this cannot always be determined at any particular time. • Claims about matters of opinion are either truthful or not. • Accepting a claim means taking it as true. • Rejecting a claim and suspending judgment both evaluate logically to FALSE.
About claims and issues... • Issues arise when a claim is in question.
About claims and issues... • Issues arise when a claim is in question. I wonder if I should register to vote. The question is whether enforcement of the noise ordinance is fair.
About claims and issues... • Issues arise when a claim is in question. • Two kinds of questions: (1) What is the position being taken?
About claims and issues... • Issues arise when a claim is in question. • Two kinds of questions: (1) What is the position being taken? (2) Is that position correct?
About claims and issues... • Issues arise when a claim is in question. • Two kinds of questions: (1) What is the position being taken? (2) Is that position correct? • The second question, in other words, is whether a claim should be accepted or rejected, or whether the most responsible position would be to suspend judgment.
About claims and issues... • Key concept: Arguments present reasons to decide an issue one way or another. • Arguments only make sense if the meanings of claims are clear. • Even after an argument has been presented, one can still suspend judgment about the acceptability (truth) of its conclusion.