Affirming the Consequent
Grace Wang
PHI108: Slides Project
What’s Affirming the Consequent?
Non sequitur or affirming the consequent: Even when the premise and conclusion are all true,
the conclusion is just not a vital consequence of the premise. (Essential Reasoning and
Writing, pg 113)
In line with ClearAndPresentThinking, affirming the consequent is a kind of sneaky invalid
argument that appears so much like modus ponen and is difficult to identify. It is sensible, as a result of if
the premises are true for that particular scenario, then the general conclusion additionally seems to
be true. However in actuality, the restricted premise is just not really consultant of the conclusion at
all.
Subject
I wish to look into depth about Affirming the Consequent in psychology. I believe it’s
attention-grabbing how we use logic in opposition to different individuals. The construction of the argument
is sensible, however logically it might not be true, so it’s attention-grabbing how we subconsciously
are in a position to strategize and use one thing that sounds structurally proper to control
the different individual
Examples
Since the invalidity of Affirming The Consequent is difficult to identify, it’s typically used as a
method for manipulating or ‘gaslighting’ others (see Chapter eight.14). Contemplate, as an
instance, an argument like this:
(P1) If you’re loopy, you’ll see issues that aren’t there.
(P2) You’re seeing issues that aren’t there.
(C) You’re due to this fact loopy.
Clear And Current Pondering, Chapter 5, Pg 101
The premises doesn’t essentially imply that the conclusion is true as a result of the first
premise is just too basic, and since the second premise is related to the the first
premise, it seems that the first a part of the first premise can also be true however that isn’t
essentially so.
Actual Life Instance 1:
Should you’re lazy, you’re going to say you’re drained although you bought lots sleep
You bought loads of sleep
You’re due to this fact lazy
My mother and father would say this to me and though it’s a structurally appropriate argument, it isn’t
essentially true, and part of me did imagine them once I shouldn’t have. It’s because
though the conclusion appears depending on the premises, it isn’t reflective of all
conditions. Due to this fact, the conclusion overgeneralizes due to the lack of sufficient
premises to Help the argument. I believe the actual downside at hand is definitely the first
premise that finally ends up messing up the conclusion, as a result of the premise may very well be not true
Actual Life Instance 2:
Should you’re dumb, you’ll fail your midterm
You fail your midterm
You’re dumb
A number of younger individuals fall into this perception and “normal” although it isn’t true and too
basic. The primary premise can also be simply inaccurate, it additionally doesn’t clarify what dumb is.
There isn’t a credibility that failing your midterm really means you’re dumb. Thus, the reality
of the conclusion is unbiased of the reality of its premise
Actual Life Instance three:
You’re egocentric if you happen to don’t spend time with your loved ones
You don’t spend time with your loved ones
You’re egocentric
This individual may very well be going by one thing and have causes as to why they don’t spend
time with their household. The conclusion oversimplifies the situation, however somebody would possibly really
imagine this
Why does this matter?
Chapter 1:
“Nonetheless, if you happen to study to assume logically, and if you happen to develop into the behavior of pondering logically, you
will discover that the issue of philosophical questions turns into now not horrifying. Certainly
chances are you’ll discover that form of issue an attention-grabbing invitation.” (pg 10)
if we develop in the behavior of pondering logically, we won’t solely discover the issue of philosophical
questions much less horrifying, however we may also be much less more likely to be manipulated by others. That is
necessary if one doesn’t wish to fall into the entice of believing affirming the consequent.
Penalties of Affirming the Consequent
Chapter three:
“three.10. The Penalties of Dangerous Habits: Make you extra susceptible to being intimidated,
bullied, or manipulated by others. Make it more durable to inform the distinction between reality and lies;”
(70)
The results of unhealthy habits of pondering will make you extra vulnerable to the invalidity
of affirming the consequent, due to this fact, we must be extra conscious and actively search out when
there may be potential for a scenario or argument being the concepts associated to affirming the
consequent.
The right way to overcome Affirming the Consequent
Chapter three:
“Wholesome skepticism is the basic unwillingness to simply accept that issues are what they seem
to be. It’s the unwillingness to take issues with no consideration, or to simply accept that issues are as you
have been informed they’re by anybody else, regardless of who they’re” (73)
If we use good habits of pondering, it may well Help us overcome the manipulating features of
affirming the consequent. Good habits contain wholesome skepticism so we don’t take issues as
is, and this will help strengthen our personal logic and sense of self assurity.
Feedback
Chapter three:
“It is a harder prospect than it could seem. Some individuals don’t discover out what their
personal worldview is till another person says or does one thing that challenges it. However it’s an
important high quality: Those that have no idea themselves are inclined to make poor selections, they usually
are simply manipulated by others.” (71)
I might argue that those that are additionally not conscious of logic are inclined to even be manipulated by
others, and I believe I might simply change the phrase “themselves” with “Affirming the
consequent” as a result of the message of the quote above can be utilized in the similar context of
my subject
Questions
1. When have you ever skilled Affirming the Consequent in the actual world?
2. Would affirming the consequent not be manipulative if you happen to’re not directing it at an precise
individual?
three. Are you extra logical or emotional?

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