Active learning ideas
Logic and Argumentation provides students with the essential tools for clear thinking and effective communication. This topic covers the structure of arguments, focusing on how premises lead to conclusions. Students learn to evaluate the validity and soundness of what they hear in the media, politics, and daily life. This aligns with NCCA standards regarding the construction of arguments and the Junior Cycle emphasis on literacy and digital media literacy.
Activity 01
Students are given a set of 'guilty' statements containing common fallacies like Ad Hominem or Slippery Slope. In a courtroom setting, 'prosecutors' must identify the fallacy while 'defenders' try to explain why the logic might actually hold up in a specific context.
What constitutes a valid argument?
Activity 02
Using large sheets of paper, small groups take a newspaper editorial and physically cut it into premises and conclusions. They then draw arrows to show the logical flow and highlight any gaps where the logic fails to connect.
How can we spot a logical fallacy in everyday media?
Activity 03
Students watch a popular Irish television advertisement and individually list the hidden premises. They then pair up to discuss whether the conclusion (buy the product) actually follows logically from the premises provided.
Why does good reasoning matter for society?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
An argument is just a heated disagreement or a fight.
In philosophy, an argument is a set of reasons given to support a conclusion. Using 'silent debates' on paper helps students focus on the logical structure rather than the emotional volume of the exchange.
If the conclusion is true, the argument must be good.
An argument can have a true conclusion but flawed logic (invalidity). Peer-teaching exercises where students create 'broken' arguments for 'true' statements help them see the importance of the logical path taken.
Methods used in this brief
The Nature of Inquiry
Students explore what makes a question philosophical and distinguish between different types of knowledge. They practice the Community of Philosophical Inquiry (CoPI) method to foster collaborative thinking.
8 methodologies
Thought Experiments
Students use classic philosophical thought experiments to stretch their imagination and test their intuitions. They learn how hypothetical scenarios help clarify complex abstract concepts.
8 methodologies