Propositions • A proposition is the declarative statement that an advocate intends to support in the argument. • Some propositions are stated formally, some are stated informally, and some are implied. • Propositions usually answer questions: such as What should be done about inflation? • Is the same thing as the claim in the Toulmin model, or a conclusion in classical model.
Assertions • There is a difference between a proposition, claims and an assertion. • An assertion is a claim or proposition with no support. • Assertions tend to weaken arguments due to their lack of support.
Responsibilities of Advocates • Anyone who argues in favor of the general proposition has the burden of proof for that proposition. • The burden of proof is the responsibility to provide enough evidence and reasoning to justify acceptance by a critical thinker. • Those who argue against the proposition have the benefit of presumption.
More: • Presumptions are the perspectives that the proposition should not be accepted until sufficient evidence and reasoning have been provided to justify acceptance.
Types of propositions • Propositions of fact – when an advocate argues in favor of accepting a statement that is something factually true, was factually true, or will be factually true. • A proposition of fact still requires support so it does not matter if it is good or bad.
Proposition of Fact • California will suffer an earthquake of 10.0 in the next 5 years. OR: • Jeff Gordon is the best Nascar driver ever! • The advocate then provides reasons to believe the statement.
Stock issues for Fact Stock issues: definition and distinction Defines what the proposition means and does not mean Stock Issue: criteria – establishes truth How do we tell if something is true or not Stock Issue: application Arguing that criteria are being met or will be met , so proposition is true
Proposition of Value • You support an evaluation about something, such as how good a product is. • Stock issue: Value – an argument of which value or set of values is the most important in drawing a conclusion for this argument • Such as: vegetables are healthier than meat – set of values is taste, health, life, quality of life, etc.
Proposition of Policy • Whenever you argue that some change of action should take place. • Many times involve public policy issues and laws • Policy propositions attempt to make a change in the status quo • Example: The federal government should institute a national health care program for all US citizens.
Stock Issues for Policy
What are stock issues? • “Arguments that naturally recur in disputes over propositions of policy.” (Hollihan and Baaske) • Arguments that address “all” of the stock issues usually are stronger than those that don’t.
Stock issues address the following questions: • What is the problem? • How big is the problem? • What’s causing the problem? • What should be done to correct the problem? • How well will that action solve the problem? • Will the action create other benefits or harms?
What are the stock issues for propositions of policy? • Harm • Significance • Inherency • Plan • Solvency • Advantages
Harm: • The advocate tries to demonstrate that something is wrong that needs to be fixed. • The problem(s) can be existing now or in the future. • The problem(s) can be within people, animals, psychological, economic, environmental, organizations, etc . . . • Opposition would indicate that there is really nothing wrong.
Significance: • Shows how bad the harm is. • Two types of significance: qualitative and quantitative. • Qualitative significance shows that the harm has severe detrimental effects on whoever is harmed. (value argument) • Quantitative significance is concerned with how much has been effected? (factual argument)
Inherency: • What is causing the harm in the statusquo? • Two types: structural inherency and attitudinal inherency. • Physical and systematic causes can create problems within the status quo. • Such things as laws, regulations, and judicial decisions can have an effect on a status quo.
More: • Attitudinal inherency is concerned with the attitudes that people hold that cause the problem. • Attitudes are unlikely to change unless some kind of legislative action takes place.
Plan: • What you propose to do to solve the problem. • This stock issue is critical to the affirmative. • The plan can be small or large, detailed or vague in nature. • Make sure your plans are “realistic”.
Solvency: • Addresses: “How much of the problem will be solved by the plan?” • Some solutions don’t solve all of the problem. • We can’t assume that a plan will resolve the entire problem. • Opposition would show that the plan is unworkable.
Advantages: • Addresses: “What will be the benefits of adopting the plan?” • Similar to Monroe’s “visualization” step. • The opposition would address disadvantages of the proposed plan.
Methodology: • Start by figuring out whether the arguer is proposing or opposing a proposition. • Decide what the proposition is and what kind of proposition it is? • Keep in mind that stock issues do not come in any particular order and are rarely explicitly identified. • Some stock issues are not addressed in the argument.
More: • How well were they addressed? • Did the arguer meet the “burden of proof?” • Finally, make a judgment of whether you believe the argument was strong or weak?
Conclusion: • Understanding the stock issues for each type of proposition helps you make your own arguments, evaluate the arguments of others, and respond to arguments.
