PHI

PHI 103 Week Two

Argument Outline Example

Media Resource:

MontyPython. (2008, November 14). Argument Clinic [Video File]. Retreived from

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFKtI6gn9Y

Transcript Available:

MontyPython. (2009). The Argument Sketch [Transcript]. Retrieved from

http://www.montypython.net/scripts/argument.php

Argument Outline: CONTEXT: After a brief bit of arguing about what an argument is, John Cleese rings the bell and declares that time is up. Michael Palin pays him for a second round of arguing, but Cleese pretends he didn’t receive the money. So they begin arguing about whether Palin paid. Palin gives a clear argument that can be summarized as follows: THE ISSUE: Did Palin pay Cleese to argue or not? THE CONCLUSION: Palin paid. THE PREMISES (REASONS): Palin says, “If you’re arguing, then I must have paid.” He also assumes Cleese is arguing, though he doesn’t come right out and say this. So the argument has this structure:

1. If Cleese is arguing then Palin must have paid. 2. Cleese is arguing. 3. Therefore Palin must have paid.

EVALUATION: This initially looks like a good argument, because Cleese has already said he’s “not allowed” to argue unless Palin pays. But this is not really a good argument. As Cleese points out later, “I could be arguing in my spare time.” In other words, the first premise is false. It is not necessarily true that “If Cleese is arguing, then Palin must have paid.”