D265 Critical Thinking: Reason and Evidence 2026-2027 Western
Governors University
, Section 1: Evaluating Arguments and Evidence
1.1.1
- Propositions: statements, proposals; can't be true or false
- Non-propositions: non-declaratives that cannot be true or false, are able to:
1. Exhort: Let's go do something.
2. Command: Go fix that.
3. Plead/Request: Please don't hurt em now
4. Question: Are you serious?
5. Perform: I pronounce you husband and wife!
1.1.2
- Simple Propositions: no internal logical structure; being T/F doesn't depend on different
parts of proposition, simply T/F on their own
- Complex Propositions: internal logical structure; composed of simple propositions,
whether complex propositions are T/F depends on how the simple propositions are
connected
1.2.2
Anatomy of Arguments
- An argument will contain premises (propositions on which the conclusion is supported)
and conclusions (what is deducted from the premises).
- Premises and conclusions have a logical relationship with one another; if you think the
premises are true and the basis is well-formed, you will likely think the conclusion is true.
Ways arguments can go wrong:
- Bad inferential structure: premises do not demonstrate or support conclusion (can
acknowledge premises are true but not agree with conclusion)
- False premise: something is wrong with particular content of premise
- A premise supports the conclusion; a conclusion is based on and connects the
premises. The believability of the conclusion is based on the truthfulness of the
premises.
1.3.1
- Conclusion indicators and premises indicators can be used to identify arguments
Conclusion indicators (essence of "I have told you this, this is what I want you to believe"):
- Therefore, so, hence, thus, wherefore
- As a result, it follows that, entails/implies that, we may conclude that
Premise indicators (essence of "from this fact I am going to infer something else"):
- Because, given that, in that
- For, as, since, as indicated by
1.4.1
Governors University
, Section 1: Evaluating Arguments and Evidence
1.1.1
- Propositions: statements, proposals; can't be true or false
- Non-propositions: non-declaratives that cannot be true or false, are able to:
1. Exhort: Let's go do something.
2. Command: Go fix that.
3. Plead/Request: Please don't hurt em now
4. Question: Are you serious?
5. Perform: I pronounce you husband and wife!
1.1.2
- Simple Propositions: no internal logical structure; being T/F doesn't depend on different
parts of proposition, simply T/F on their own
- Complex Propositions: internal logical structure; composed of simple propositions,
whether complex propositions are T/F depends on how the simple propositions are
connected
1.2.2
Anatomy of Arguments
- An argument will contain premises (propositions on which the conclusion is supported)
and conclusions (what is deducted from the premises).
- Premises and conclusions have a logical relationship with one another; if you think the
premises are true and the basis is well-formed, you will likely think the conclusion is true.
Ways arguments can go wrong:
- Bad inferential structure: premises do not demonstrate or support conclusion (can
acknowledge premises are true but not agree with conclusion)
- False premise: something is wrong with particular content of premise
- A premise supports the conclusion; a conclusion is based on and connects the
premises. The believability of the conclusion is based on the truthfulness of the
premises.
1.3.1
- Conclusion indicators and premises indicators can be used to identify arguments
Conclusion indicators (essence of "I have told you this, this is what I want you to believe"):
- Therefore, so, hence, thus, wherefore
- As a result, it follows that, entails/implies that, we may conclude that
Premise indicators (essence of "from this fact I am going to infer something else"):
- Because, given that, in that
- For, as, since, as indicated by
1.4.1
