Chp. 7: Directly & Indirectly Refuting an Argument

2). Please discuss, in detail, what you learned from reading Chapter 7.  Discuss at least 2 things you learned. 

In refuting arguments, our main purpose is to show that an premise/argument is weak.  Through refuting arguments, we can also test our premise/argument's strength by questioning if we can come up with a counter-argument.  By addressing counter-arguments will strengthen our premises and arguments.

Directly Refuting

Ways of refuting an argument are: "(To) show that at least one of the premises is dubious.  (To) show that the argument isn't valid or strong.  (To) show that the conclusion is false." (Epstein, p. 149).

Basically, we are finding the obvious details of the argument that are weak or false and counter-arguing it.  If we doubt an argument being made, we then try to show whether its invalid, weak, or false.  Simple and to the point.

Indirectly Refuting

Sometimes, it is not as obvious to see that the argument being made is invalid, weak, or false; however, in the contrary, we still may be able to see that there is something invalid, weak, or false with the argument, but not exactly sure what.  What can be happening is that there is absurdity in the claim.  Then here, we must reduce absurdity by "show[ing] that at lease one of the several claims is false or dubious, or collectively that are unacceptable, by drawing a false or unwanted conclusion from them" (Epstein, p. 150).  In other words, we must show where in the premises are doubtful and unacceptable to its purpose.  Sometimes, people are not arguing clearly and we must point out what makes its unacceptable as a clear argument.