Philosophy, Rhetoric, and Argument 1
Philosophy, Rhetoric, and Argument 1 LEARNING OUTCOMES t’s often said that everyone philosophy: has a philosophy. It’s the intellectual Upon carefully studying this chapter, students also often said that activity of discerning should better comprehend and be able to explain: I and removing philosophical musings are contradictions ●● The ways in which philosophy, following the merely matters of opinion. among nonempirical, example of Socrates, can be distinguished from But in very important ways, reasoned beliefs mere rhetoric and sophistry, and the value of both of these assertions that have universal philosophical exploration. misrepresent philosophy. importance, with the First, philosophy isn’t so resulting benefit of ●● A working definition of philosophy, including its much something you have; achieving a greater primary sub‐areas of philosophical exploration understanding of rather, it is something that (especially metaphysics, epistemology, and the world and one’s you do. It is a process or ethics). place within it. activity, and a carefully ●● Different kinds of arguments to employ and crafted one at that. Second, fallacies to avoid in (philosophical) reasoning. when taking care to do philosophy well, it is unfair to say that philosophical judgments are merely ●● The debate about whether philosophical matters of personal opinion. This chapter strives to analysis can establish objectively true reinforce these refined estimations of philosophy. statements, and some arguments relevant to The chapters that follow will further reinforce them. this debate. By the time you reach the end of the text, and with ●● How Thank You for Smoking, Minority Report, the help of some very notable philosophers from and The Emperor’s ClubCOPYRIGHTED can be employed to the MATERIAL history of philosophy, you should have a much better understand and appreciate philosophy better grasp of what philosophy is and how it is and the philosophical process.
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