What Are the Value
Conflicts and
Assumptions?
,Assumptions
In all arguments the writer will make
assumptions. Assumptions can be:
Hidden or unstated
Taken for granted.
Influential in determining the conclusion
Necessary, if the reasoning is to make sense
Potentially deceptive.
, Identifying assumption
When you seek assumptions, where and how should you look?
Numerous assumptions exist in any book, discussion, or article, but you
need to be concerned about relatively few. As you remember, the visible
structure of an argument consists of reasons and conclusions. But, you
are interested only in assumptions that affect the quality of this structure.
You can restrict your search for assumptions, therefore, to the structure
you have already learned to identify.
Conflicts and
Assumptions?
,Assumptions
In all arguments the writer will make
assumptions. Assumptions can be:
Hidden or unstated
Taken for granted.
Influential in determining the conclusion
Necessary, if the reasoning is to make sense
Potentially deceptive.
, Identifying assumption
When you seek assumptions, where and how should you look?
Numerous assumptions exist in any book, discussion, or article, but you
need to be concerned about relatively few. As you remember, the visible
structure of an argument consists of reasons and conclusions. But, you
are interested only in assumptions that affect the quality of this structure.
You can restrict your search for assumptions, therefore, to the structure
you have already learned to identify.
