An argument is distinguished by its premises, conclusion, and logical structure, with premises providing evidence for the conclusion, which is logically supported. Evaluation of an argument involves assessing both the logical coherence and the truthfulness of its premises.
The distinction between arguments and non-arguments can be identified by three key elements: premises, conclusion, and logical structure. The premises are statements that provide support or evidence for the conclusion, which is the statement that the argument is seeking to establish as true.
The logical structure is the arrangement of the premises in such a way that they validly support the conclusion, establishing a connection that is intended to persuade or prove the conclusion's validity. In evaluation, one assesses both the logical coherence and the truth of the premises to determine the overall strength of the argument.
An example of an argument may begin with premises, such as "Jori is allergic to cats" and "Her apartment complex does not allow dogs," leading to the conclusion that "Jori does not have a pet." Words like "since" and "therefore" often indicate the premises and conclusion respectively, helping to outline the argument's structure. Finally, a strong argument must avoid logical fallacies and be based on premises that are both true and logically relevant to the conclusion.