The Language of Argument

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c hAp tEr 9 ■ I n f e r e n c e t o t h e B e s t E x p l a n a t i o n a n d f r o m A n a l o g y

incomplete explanations. The argument for life on other planets did not have

to commit itself to any particular theory about the origin of life or about which

conditions are needed to support life. Nor did the car argument specify exactly

what makes cars reliable. Such arguments from analogy merely list a number

of similarities so that the list will be likely to include whatever factors are

needed for life or for reliability. In this way, arguments from analogy can avoid

depending on any complete theory about what is and what is not relevant.

This incompleteness makes arguments from analogy useful in situations

where we do not yet know enough to formulate detailed theories or even

to complete an inference to the best explanation. Yet, the incompleteness of

arguments from analogy also makes them more vulnerable to refutation,

since the analogies that they list might fail to include a crucial respect. This

does not mean that arguments from analogy are never any good. They can

be strong. However, it does suggest that their strength will increase as they

approach or approximate more complete inferences to the best explanation.

For each of the following arguments, state whether the indicated changes

would make the argument weaker or stronger, and explain why. The strength

of the argument might not be affected at all. If so, say why it is not affected.

1. My friend and I have seen many movies together, and we have always
   agreed on whether they are good or bad. My friend liked the movie
   trilogy The Lord of the Rings. So I probably will like it as well.
   Would this argument be weaker or stronger if:
   a. The only movies that my friend and I have watched together are
   comedies, and The Lord of the Rings is not a comedy.
   b. My friend and I have seen very many, very different movies together.
   c. My friend and I always watched movies together on Wednesdays, but
   my friend watched The Lord of the Rings on a weekend.
   d. The conclusion claims that I definitely will like The Lord of the Rings
   a lot.
   e. The conclusion claims that I probably won’t totally dislike The Lord of
   the Rings.


2. All the students from Joe’s high school with high grades and high board
   scores did well in college. Joe also had high grades and board scores. So
   he will probably do well in college.
   Would this argument be weaker or stronger if:
   a. The other students worked hard, but Joe’s good grades came easily to
   him, so he never learned to work hard.
   b. Joe is going to a different college than the students with whom he is
   being compared.

Exercise IV

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