Structure of argument

An argument is constituted of a proposition or conclusion, and premises.

The  proposition or conclusion is the idea being argued.

Premises are reasons or points supporting the argument:

Premise + premise  -> conclusion

Or even..

Premise -> conclusion

Complex arguments

i.)   String of premises:  Complex arguments can be constructed with a long list or stringof premises.

Premise + premise + premise + premise + premise  -> conclusion

ii.)   Nested arguments: Complex arguments  may also be produced by ‘nesting’ arguments.   This means that a premise may in fact be a conclusion supported by its own premises:

Premise +  (premise + premise -> conclusion) -> conclusion

In this case an argument may be constructed to reach a conclusion that then becomes a supporting premise  for another conclusion.

iii.)   Assumptions:  ‘Assumptions’ and ‘Definitions’ may be seen as ‘hidden’ or nested arguments.  An assumption is something that must be accepted before  a point of argument can be considered, defended or refuted.  The alternative is to refuse to accept the assumption.  This moves the argument into the ‘nested premises’ that support the assumption rather than the main argument.  The premise is taken as a sub-conclusion, and the  premises that support this sub-conclusion (assumptions about it) are examined.

iv.)  Definitions:   Every term used in an argument has a ‘meaning’ and a ‘definition’.  These can be seen as kinds of Assumptions that can be explored as nested arguments (as arguments that must be settled before the main premises can be discussed).

Dialectic argument (the Socratic method)

This type of argument is ideall  for divining truth, rather than just persuading.

The basic structure premise + premise -> conclusion is retained.  But in this case the aim is to discover the conclusion, rather than support a conclusion that is already known.

The first premise, the ‘thesis’, is a proposition.

The second premise is the ‘antithesis’, ideally (and by definition) the opposite argument to the original ‘thesis’.

The thesis and antithesis serve as premises that support a conclusion called a ‘synthesis’.

The synthesis is the higher truth discovered by the process of argument.  Different (opposing) hypotheses are put forward on a topic  and the process of dialectic shows what hypothesis is stronger, or what combination of the hypotheses might be the best conclusion.

This form of argument is the basis of debate.

Next: Types of Premise, Missing Premises (syllogism)