Philosophy 101          Inroduction to Philosophy     Group Writing Projects       Argument strategies   (hypothetical argument)

   When an essay is shaped by a hypothetical argument, it means that the overall argument of the essay is composed of "if-then" statements. Schematically, the overall argument could boil down to something like this:

             1. If A is true, then B is true.
             2. If B is true, then C is true.
             3. If C is true, then D is true.
___________________________________________________________
                   4. Therefore, if A is true, then D is true.


Here's a more concrete example:
    1. If the temperature goes below freezing for any
        length of time, then the water around the boat will         freeze.
    2. If the water around the boat freezes,then it will crush          the hull of the boat.
    3. If the hull of the boat is crushed, then we'll have no         way to save ourselves.
______________________________________________________________________________________
    4. Therefore, if the temperature goes below freezing for         any length of time, then we'll have no way to save         ourselves.

If you agree that reasons 1,2, and 3 are true, then you must agree with the conclusion.


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Last revision:  August 31, 1998
Please send any comments to Frank Edler fedler@mccneb.edu