Reference no: EM133563682
Case Study: The technical sense of 'assumption' as a missing premise is related to argument analysis and evaluation--we must be clear on assumptions as hidden premises and how arguments are working to evaluate them properly. In the textbook there are exercises for how to practice identifying these kinds of assumptions--namely, unstated, missing premises. On the quiz this week, students will practice how to identify these kinds of assumptions.
The more general meaning of 'assumption', 'things we take for granted in reasoning and argument' involves more than we can treat in this session. Here again is an overview:
Assumptions are values, beliefs that are 'taken for granted' in our reasoning. There are innumerable assumptions influencing and guiding our perceptions and reasoning. But we can distinguish between two different kinds of statements or beliefs that may aid us in thinking about assumptions:
Descriptive statements or beliefs, that is statements or beliefs about the way the world is--we can normally evaluate these kinds of statements by examining evidence.
Normative statements or beliefs about the way things should be--which involve measure of values and belief about right and wrong, good and bad.
Assumptions, as 'things we take for granted', and biases can be distinguished in more than one way; one way to distinguish assumptions from biases is the following:
Assumptions are 'things taken for granted', generally speaking.
Biases are short-cut inferences, related to attitudes, emotions, experiences, that are based on assumptions or other premises that are either false or dubious or provide inadequate support for conclusions.
Cognitive biases are certain common 'short-cuts' people tend to use are unreliable and lead to mistakes. This session we have been introduced to one such bias, called the 'anchoring bias'.
Questions:
- What are the differences between an assumption as 'an implicit premise' in an argument, and a cognitive bias, like the anchoring bias? Provide examples and explain.
- What is the difference between an assumption as an implicit premise and, more generally, as 'something taken for granted'? Provide examples and explain.