Professor Zeyad El Nabolsy
znabolsy@yorku.ca

In this course you will develop the ability to identify and critically assess different argumentative structures. You will learn to distinguish between valid arguments and invalid arguments, as well as between sound arguments and unsound arguments. While the notions of validity and invalidity are undoubtedly important, there are many forms of argument which are widely deployed, but which are nevertheless invalid from a strictly formal point of view. Yet, as we will discover, such argumentative forms are indispensable, so we have to develop our capacity to assess such arguments. To this end we will be discussing how to assess the strengths of abductive and inductive arguments. This course is very much geared towards the practical application of key theoretical notions, and our discussion of these topics will be tethered to a discussion of some key social issues such as: whether we should raise or decrease the minimum wage, whether war is ever just, whether something like human nature exists, and if so, is it good or bad (or is that just a bad question to ask in the first place!), the evidence for anthropogenic climate change, and the nature of identity politics (who does it harm? who does it benefit?).

Times and locations: This course will meet for 2 hours and 50 minutes in-person on Tuesday at 11: 30 am.

Sharon Bailin and Mark Battersby. Reason in the Balance (Second Edition). Indianapolis: Hackett, 2016. $ 66.86 (CAD). ISBN: 978-1-62466-477-9

Taiwo, Olufemi. Elite Capture: How the Powerful Took Over Identity Politics (And Everything Else). Chicago: Haymarket Books, 2022. $26.50 (CAD). ISBN: 978-1642596885

1. In-Class Exercises (20%)
2. Test I (20%).
3. Test II (20 %).
4. Test III (20 %)
5. Test IV (20%).

Class time will be divided between lectures and in-class individual and group exercises. Depending on the nature of the material covered in any given week, more time maybe devoted to lecturing or to in-class exercises and discussion. It is vital for students to attend class in person (unless there is an emergency).

1. Learn how to discern the argumentative structure of different texts.
2. Learn how to assess the adequacy or inadequacy of different forms of argument.
3. Understand what counts as a good deductive argument.
4. Understand what counts as a good inductive argument.
5. Understand what counts as a good abductive argument.
6. Identify some common fallacies.
7. Write clearly and effectively with the aim of rationally persuading your reader.
8. Develop a critical independent perspective on social issues.

Schedule:

September 9^th, Chapter 1 of Reason in the Balance

September 16^th, Chapter 2 of Reason in the Balance

September 23^th,  Chapter 3 of Reason in the Balance

September 30^th,  Chapter 4 of Reason in the Balance

October 7^th, Chapter 5 of Reason in the Balance

October 21^st, Test I

October 28^th,  Chapter 6 of Reason in the Balance

November 4^th, Chapter 7 of Reason the Balance

November 11^th, Chapter 8 of Reason in the Balance

November 18^th, Chapter 9 of Reason in the Balance

November 25^th, Chapter 10 of Reason in the Balance

December 2^nd, Test II

January 6^th, Chapter 11 of Reason in the Balance

January 13^th, Chapter 12 of Reason in the Balance

January 20^th, Chapter 13 of Reason in the Balance

January 27^th, Chapter 14 of Reason in the Balance

February 3^rd, Chapter 15 of Reason in the Balance

February 10^th, Chapter 16 of Reason in the Balance

February 24^th, Test III

March 3^rd, Intro + Chapter 1 of Elite Capture

March 10^th, Chapter 2 of Elite Capture + Chapter 3 of Elite Capture

March 17^th, Chapter 4 of Elite Capture

March 24^th, Chapter 5 of Elite Capture

March 31^st, Test IV

Assignment Submission, Late Penalties, and Other Policies:

Students who miss the tests with a valid excuse (e.g., through illness) will be provided with the opportunity to make up for the missed test with no penalty. If you do not have a valid excuse, you will be penalized at 10% per week.

All work submitted must be your own work. Plagiarism is a very serious academic transgression and it will not be tolerated. Please see the definition provided by York University. The use of A.I. such as ChatGPT is strictly prohibited.

I strive to create an inclusive classroom environment where everyone is welcome. If you need any accommodations please let me know as soon as possible, and we will develop a plan in collaboration with Student Accessibility Services.

Some of the topics that we will be discussing will undoubtedly lead to the raising of controversial opinions, and I encourage civil critical debate. However, any discriminatory or hateful remarks are not welcome in class.