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Exercise 2

1. Evaluate the following argument map:

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Hints

• Start evaluating at the left-most basis box and work through one branch at a time from bottom to top, and finish by evaluating the position

• When evaluating basis boxes, ask yourself: is this a reliable source of information? Does this basis provide sufficient sufficient evidence for me to believe the claim above it?

• When evaluating reasons, ask yourself: what confidence do I have in this reason, given my assessment of its basis?
  • If you think its basis is reliable, ask yourself: does this reason give support for the claim above it? How good a reason is it - strong or weak?
  • If you think its basis is unreliable, ask yourself: could I still reasonably accept this claim on other grounds?  If the answer is no, then the reason can't provide any support for the claim above it.
• Evaluate objections the same way that you evaluate reasons, but the question becomes: does this claim undermine the claim above it?
• To evaluate the position, ask yourself: what confidence do I have in this, given my evaluation of the top layer of reasons and objections? On balance, is there a better case for accepting it, rejecting it, or taking no stand on the matter?

2. Check your work against the model.

Set 9 - More on assessing • Second page • Third page • Example • Exercise 1 • Exercise 2 • Final

© Austhink 2007.  Rationale Exercises version 0.1, Sep-07

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