What are Premises?
Premises are the foundational statements or assumptions that lead to a conclusion in an argument. They're like the building blocks that support the argument's main point.
How to Find Premises:
1. Identify the Conclusion:
- Look for the main point the author is trying to convince you of. Often, it's the last sentence of a paragraph or the overall takeaway of the piece.
- Ask yourself: "What is the author trying to prove?"
2. Look for Supporting Statements:
- Scan the article for sentences that provide evidence or reasons for the conclusion.
- Ask yourself: "Why does the author believe this conclusion is true?"
3. Recognize Different Types of Premises:
- Factual Premises: These are statements about things that are observable or verifiable. Example: "The Earth is a sphere."
- Value Premises: These are statements about what's good, bad, right, or wrong. Example: "It's wrong to harm animals."
- Definition Premises: These define key terms used in the argument. Example: "Democracy is a system of government where power is held by the people."
4. Consider the Argument's Structure:
- Deductive Arguments: These use premises that are logically connected to the conclusion. If the premises are true, the conclusion must be true.
- Inductive Arguments: These use premises to support the conclusion, but the conclusion isn't guaranteed to be true. Example: "All swans I've seen are white, so all swans must be white."
5. Pay Attention to Signal Words:
- Look for words like "because," "since," "for," "as a result," "therefore," "thus," and "consequently." These words often introduce premises.
Examples:
* Article: "Vaccines are safe and effective. Studies have shown that they protect people from serious diseases. Therefore, everyone should get vaccinated."
* Conclusion: Everyone should get vaccinated.
* Premises:
* Vaccines are safe and effective.
* Studies have shown that they protect people from serious diseases.
* Article: "The new law is unfair because it disproportionately affects low-income families."
* Conclusion: The new law is unfair.
* Premise: It disproportionately affects low-income families.
Remember:
- Not all articles will have explicit premises. Some arguments may rely on assumptions or implicit beliefs.
- The premises of an argument might be stated directly or implied.
- You may need to infer the premises based on the author's overall message and the context of the article.
By carefully analyzing the text and identifying the building blocks of the argument, you can effectively understand the premises and evaluate the validity of the argument.