Final answer:
An argument begins with premises, which are reasons offered to support a conclusion. Premises are crucial as they provide the grounds for the argument and must be true and relevant to avoid logical fallacies.
Step-by-step explanation:
An argument typically begins with a set of reasons that are meant to support a conclusion. These reasons are called premises. A premise is an initial point that sets the ground for the argument, and it is vital for building a logical structure that leads to a conclusion. The premise provides the evidence or justification for the conclusion. In logic and critical thinking, identifying the premises and the conclusion is a key step in understanding and evaluating an argument's strength. Arguments can also have counterarguments and evidence to support the premises, but it's the premises that form the backbone of any argument.
Here is an example of how premises might be utilized in constructing an argument:
- Premise 1: All humans are mortal.
- Premise 2: Socrates is a human.
- Conclusion: Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
In the above example, the two premises logically support the conclusion drawn. It is important for arguments to have premises that are true and relevant to the conclusion in order to avoid problems such as premises containing the conclusion (circular reasoning), premises being inadequate to support the conclusion, or the existence of alternative arguments with equal or greater support.