For the following three statements map the strongest possible argument that uses all (and only) the following statements. Use a diagram to represent the argument you construct. 

1 Therefore hydrogen exists.

2 If there was no water, bubbles wouldn’t exist, 

3 Hydrogen is a component of water, 

4 Bubbles exist

Pop your answers in the comments!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Map the strongest possible argument that uses all (and only) the following statements. Use a diagram to represent the argument you construct. Is there a fallacy involved, and what might it be?

Pelicans and Penguins are the two top teams on the Bird Sport rankings table, both equally matched in points. 

No other team is as successful. 

When they play this week, either the Pelicans will beat the Penguins or the Penguins will beat the Pelicans. 

If Penguins win then they will be clearly on top of the ladder, but if Pelicans win, they will be on top. It follows that

After this week’s match, one team will be a clear leader on the Bird Sport rankings table.

Write your answer in the comments! Answer will be available tomorrow on patreon.com/kyliesturgess.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Map the strongest possible argument that uses all (and only) the following statements. Use a diagram to represent the argument you construct. 

Penguins do not exist.

There are many people claim to have seen penguins.

If penguins did exist, someone would have seen them.

Nobody has ever proved that that penguins exist.

People who claim to have seen penguins are either confused or making up stories.

Write your answer in the comments! Answer will be available tomorrow on patreon.com/kyliesturgess.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s episode is the revision on religious philosophy from the past week — you can support the 365DaysOfPhilosophy podcast by visiting www.patreon.com/kyliesturgess and review previous episodes at www.365daysofphilosophy.com.

If you can help the show continue, head to: https://www.patreon.com/kyliesturgess

Music from Jukedeck — create your own at http://jukedeck.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the following examples, identify if there is a fallacy being used (there may not be!) — and which one it is. Answers tomorrow on Patreon.com/kyliesturgess.

You can either discuss how pelicans have to deal with body dysmorphia, and ignore how there’s a rise in problems for penguin’s body issues — or you can allow for some balance and just discuss penguin’s body issues problems instead. — false dilemma

You’re talking about lack of representation of pelicans’ work in film competitions, but did you know that penguins are portrayed in magazines like Cosmopolitan as objectified sex symbols? I’m raising that as a problem facing us all. — red herring

After the film competition removed the identifying characteristics of the creators of the film entries, penguins were less likely to be selected as film competition finalists. Therefore, removing the identity of the creators of the entries leads to bias against penguin entries. — post hoc.

Sure, there’s a lot of evidence that there’s problems for pelicans’ work being selected for that film competition for the past ten years, but you’re not talking about all the other years before then, where there may have been less problems for pelicans’ work being selected. — moving the goalposts

No radio broadcaster has succeeded unless they were a penguin, so you must have to be a penguin in order to succeed in radio broadcasting. — no true scotsman.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the following examples, identify if there is a fallacy being used (there may not be!) — and which one it is. Answers tomorrow on Patreon.com/kyliesturgess.

If we legalise euthanasia, then we can accept genocide, martial law and murder as acceptable ways to achieve justice. 

These new treatments have the feel of energy-giving rejuvenation, bring vitalisation to your whole body and may even give you a new lease on life!

The senator said that there’d be a rise in costs for education, about another thousand a year. Clearly only the rich will be able to be educated in the future.

He wants to be reassured that he’s returning to Italy, so he’s asked that you send confirmation when you know for sure about the plans.

There’s no way we can be certain that the earth is not filled with cheese in the very deep depths, so we have to be open to the possibility that there’s cheese inside the earth!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the following, identify if there is a fallacy being used (there may not be!) — and which one it is. Answers tomorrow on Patreon.com/kyliesturgess.

My mother told me that the minister could turn bread and wine into Jesus’ body and blood, so the minister must be able to do that. 

She says she’s an expert in the subject, so she clearly thinks she’s an expert in everything - so we should treat everything she says with doubt. 

We noticed that the people using Pelicaa cleaner in the oven had more eczema, so we should have restrictions on Pelicaa cleaner on the basis of health risk .

The poster has a clown on it; I find clowns scary so the movie must be about scary clowns. 

Either the murderer is in the building, or it’s someone who isn’t outside of the building. 

Put your answers in the comments!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The principle of charity involves both rhetorical technique and philosophical arguments; it’s about listening to an argument that is being given and rather than being distracted by the particular style or language choice that might otherwise lead a listener to be biased towards the content, instead focusing on what would be the strongest argument proposed.

We can see this all the time when a young person who might not have as much control over their language tries to discuss something that they disagree with. They might use limited terms, or be emotional, perhaps resort to slang words or abbreviate, rather than pose their question in a structured fashion.

By looking for the strongest and most persuasive form of the argument, you’re also able to see how you can avoid doing strawman fallacies when rebutting. It also enables you to see if there’s really an argument — or just an opinion being aired. By looking at the strongest points being made by your opponent, you also test your own reasoning and its strength in response.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of philosophy is finding new textbooks and reference books, particularly ones aimed at the younger years. The Philosophy Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained, by Will Buckingham, is bright, fun, interestingly and beautifully designed, and should definitely be a choice if you’re looking for something to suit the curious mind of a young person.

As the series overall says, the purpose of these ‘Big Ideas Simply Explained’ series is to use design and infographics with complex topics that require unpacking. In this particular book, it’s combining both the historical approach (including a healthy helping of modern philosophy, not just the early era Greeks), and some of the more puzzling concepts such as what constitutes happiness, social political ideas and even innovations and the implications. As an overview, it’s bright and engaging, and as an introduction, it’s certainly recommended for anyone interested in getting an idea about the subject and being inspired to read more.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier extended answer questions can be found at this link. Patreons also get access to extra content and more questions, subscribe at www.patreon.com/kyliesturgess.

Evil is part of the natural process of the world and therefore doesn’t need a deity to exist. Discuss.

God is unknowable, and therefore the nature of evil is unknowable, and we shouldn’t question either. Discuss

Humanity is the source of controllable evil and only adherence of everyone to a religion will stop evil. Discuss.

It is too simplistic to call natural disasters evil; they are entirely up to context and perspective, and should be removed from being defined as ‘evil’ at all. Discuss.

There is no such thing as the lesser of two evils. Discuss.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.