Positive Relevance P 2 A Premise example essay topic

Chivalry is the most significant concept throughout history. Chivalry, in its formal code, came to exist in the Middle Ages around the 12th century. It is not clear as to whether the Romans, the Franks, or the Germans gave rise to chivalry, but each culture brought the seeds of conduct with them. The formal code was based on knightly conduct, with special emphasis on the courtly manners towards women.

Chivalry was such an important aspect of morality that the church became heavily involved. The church used the code of chivalry to reshape the idea of the social warrior. In doing this, the church wanted citizens to identify with virtue, military excellence with courtesy, a sense of justice, piety, and honor. (Ventura, pg. 46) People familiar with King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table know that a chivalrous act usually involved someone, usually a damsel in distress and a brave knight who comes to the rescue. For the sake of arguing, we need to establish our definition of chivalry. Our reparative definitions are as follows: Chivalry- the qualifications of the ideal knight.

Dead- extinguished no longer existing. Our Stipulative definitions are the following: Chivalry-for our purposes, chivalry are the characteristics of a person who follows and believes in the principles of the Chivalric Code. Dead-no longer occurring Chivalric Code: I. Live to serve king and country. II.

Live one's life so that it is worthy of respect and honor.. Live for freedom, justice and all that is good. IV. Choose death before dishonor. V. Never attack an unarmed foe. VI. Avoid lying to your fellow man VII.

Administer justice. V. Defend the week and innocent. IX. Destroy evil in all of its monstrous forms. X. Show Respect to authority. XI. Exhibit manners. XII.

Do not allow anger t blind you, a cool head will win the day. X. Exhibit courage in word and deed. XIV. Never abandon a friend, ally, or noble cause. XV. Never betray a confidence or comrade.

XVI. Remain loyal to one's friends and those who lay their trust in thee. XVII. Fight with honor. XV. Die with honor.

(Berger, pg. 28) The code of honor that chilvarly made people live by left a cultural tradition to be carried out many hundreds of years. Today, morality and ethics are rare commodities. One could generalize these principles down to everyday situations, but even then, one would find that the majority of people just don't live by this code. Today, the majority of people just do not hold these values true to their hearts. And it should be clarified that just because you hold a door open, or pick up books for a female you are not chivalrous. Chivalry is code that one must live their life by, not simply picking and choosing a few to follow.

For example, schools no longer teach morality; but religion is able to reach only a few and families are often broken. We see the results of this problem nightly on the television, news, and in daily papers. Nobody in the world will do the right thing every single time. We are going to pick for aspects of the chivalric code and demonstrate how they no longer exist.

Argument #1 Deductive Reasoning For our purposes cheating will be defined as obtaining an unfair advantage to benefit oneself. It has been shown through research that cheating is a common occurrence at all college campuses. Of 68 people that were polled at Cal Poly 80% (or 54 people) admitted that they have cheated at one time or another. Cheating is a direct violation of the Chivalric Code. P 1 Cheating is obtaining an unfair advantage to benefit oneself. P 2 Cheating is a common occurrence at all college campuses.

P 3 80% of Cal Poly students admitted to cheating at one time or another. P 4 Cheating is a violation of the Chivalric Code. Therefore, C Chivalry is dead. A.R.G. Conditions Acceptability: Premise 1 is cogent because it is a definition and not an arguable statement (common knowledge). Premise 2 is acceptable because it is not easy to refute and gives no evidence of not being acceptable.

Premise 3 is a different case. It is acceptable under the proper testimony clause. The premise is a fact from a poll taken at Cal Poly and there is no reason to doubt the fact that the results are true. Premise 4 is true by simple logic. Premise 5 is defended by the rest of the argument and is therefore acceptable. Relevance: Relevance is also evident in this argument.

Premise 1 clearly defines the ambiguous term of cheating for premise 2. Premise three is a proof of premise 2. It gives a specific example to the broad statement made in premise 2. Premise 4 is definitely relevant. Premise five is not relevant to premise 3 or 4 but is relevant to premise 1 and 2. Grounds: This argument meets the G condition because all the premises are true and relevant to themselves and support the conclusion.

Counter Argument P 1 For this purpose we will define cheating as directly copying someone's work. P 2 Cheating is not a common occurrence in college classrooms. P 3 Of the 68 people polled at Cal Poly only 19 of them admitted copying off a neighbor's work. P 4 19 of 68 is less than 51% that is needed to prove a majority.

P 5 Some people will always defy the Chivalric Code but a majority is needed to prove the code is nonexistent. Therefore, C Chivalry is not dead A.R.G. Conditions Acceptability: Premise 1 is a stipulative definition and can not be argued. Premise 2 uses the stipulative definition of premise 1 and makes a general statement. This premise is accepted provisionally based on the fact that the other premises aim to prove that statement true. Premise 3 is yet another fact that can not be argued and is therefore acceptable. Premise 4 states a simple, logical fact and can not be argued either.

Premise 5 is easily refutable and is not acceptable. Relevancy: Premise one is directly related to premise 2. Premise 2 is proved true by the facts presented in premise 3. Premise 4 is related to premise 3 through its usage of the information in 3. Premise 5 is not relative to any of the other premises and allows this argument to not meet the Relevancy condition. Grounds: This argument does not pass the G condition because it does not meet the R condition.

Premise 5 needs to be supported by a sub-argument in order to be acceptable on the G condition. Argument #2 Conductive Reasoning In today's society people attempt to cover up their mistakes, hoping that nobody will notice, this is not an honorable act. Most people are not courageous or brave and rarely help when someone is in trouble. Now days, people are quick to sue and often greedy when it comes to money and financial matters. People are only generous when others are watching. The more money the better!

Loyalty is rarely seen in any way shape or form. From the smallest social circle to family situations across the nation, all lack loyalty. We live in a world of aggression and revenge. If we are wronged we want to get that person or persons back. All of these above principles, which happen to be in the Chivalric Code, are often not seen in present day society. P 1 In today's society people attempt to cover up their mistakes, hoping that no one will notice, this is not an honorable act.

P 2 Most people are not courageous or brave; people no longer help when they see that a person is in trouble. P 3 Now more than ever people are sue happy, intending to get everything that is theirs and more; they are generous only when they have to be. P 4 Loyalty is rarely seen people cheat one another everyday, parents abandon their children, and people talk about each other when they are not around. P 5 People who are able to "forgive and forget" are not common. Revenge, lawsuits and aggression have taken their place.

P 6 Honor, courage, generosity, forgiveness, and loyalty are rarely seen. Therefore, C Chivalry is dead (Converging Premises into one conclusion) Counter Argument Honorable people treat others fairly and keep their word. People are usually courageous and help those in trouble with out thinking of themselves. People would rather give than receive showing that most everyone is generous. People hardly ever ask for the return of something they have loaned.

People rarely cheat on each other or leave friends, children or anyone else they love. These are all part of the Code of Chivalry. P 1 Honorable people treat others fairly and keep their word. P 2 People are courageous and help those in trouble with out thinking of themselves. P 3 People would rather give than receive showing that most everyone is generous. P 4 People hardly ever ask for the return of something that they loaned.

P 5 People rarely cheat on each other or leave friends, children, or anyone else they love behind. Therefore, C Chivalry is alive. A.R.G. Conditions Conductive Argument P 1 A- known to be a priori true R- positive relevance P 2 A- matter of common knowledge R- positive relevance P 3 A- matter of common knowledge R- positive relevance P 4 A-known to a priori true R- positive relevance P 5 A- matter of common knowledge R- positive relevance P 1-5 G- all grounds for cogent argument Counter Argument P 1 A- Highly refutable, not acceptable R- positive relevance P 2 A- premise is refutable on the basis of common knowledge R- positive relevance P 3 A- highly refutable R- positive relevance P 4 A- vague or ambiguous, not acceptable R- positive relevance P 5 A- begs the question R- positive relevance P 1-5 G- all grounds for argument Argument #3 Inductive Reasoning P 1 On an average day in North Carolina, 100 women are victims of rape or attempted rape and many others are battered, predominantly by men that they know. P 2 The population is bigger in California than in North Carolina. So probably, P 3 On an average day in the California, over 100 women are victims of rape or attempted rape and many others are battered, predominantly by men that they know. P 4 Rape is a form of assault to a woman, and assaulting a woman shows no respect for a woman. P 5 Respecting a woman is a rule under the code of chivalry.

Therefore, C Chivalry is dead. A.R.G. Conditions First, we will test the premises of the subargument for acceptability. P 1 is acceptable based on testimony. P 2 is acceptable based on common knowledge. Next, we will test for relevance. Both of the premises are positively relevant to the conclusion. Finally, we test for good grounds.

Both premises being acceptable and relevant, therefore, there are good grounds for the conclusion. Now we will move on to the whole argument. P 4 is acceptable based on common knowledge. P 5 is acceptable a priori based on the code of chivalry. The subargument, P 4, and P 5 are all positively relevant to the conclusion. There are also good grounds provided for the conclusion.

Therefore, this argument is cogent. Counter Argument P 1 60% of men polled at Cal Poly open doors for women. So probably, P 3 Around 60% of men in San Luis Obispo open doors for women. P 4 Opening a door for a woman is a sign of respect.

P 5 Showing respect for a woman is a rule under the code of chivalry. Therefore, C Chivalry is not dead. The previous argument also uses inductive reasoning. We are applying the statistics we found true at Cal Poly to the population of San Luis Obispo. We feel that this sample is representative because we polled a total of 68 people at various locations on campus, including the recreation center, the library, the lighthouse, the campus store, the university union, and the business building breeze way. We also feel that this sample can apply to the population of San Luis Obispo because Cal Poly students account for a large amount of the population of the city. A.R.G. Conditions Now we must take the argument through A.R.G. First, we deal with the subargument.

P 1 is acceptable because of testimony. It is also positively relevant to the conclusion and as a result of the above paragraph it also provides good grounds for the conclusion. Now we move on to the whole argument. Based on the fact that all the premises are acceptable and relevant to the conclusion, there are good grounds.

This argument is also cogent. Argument #4 Analogy "The president of the United States is a citizen who is entitled to represent the people of the United States and we look up to him as a role model. Recently, the president lied about his affair with Monica Lewinsky. If our president lies, then it shows us that it is okay to lie. Lying goes against the code of chivalry. Therefore, seeing the president's actions, chivalry is dead.

P 1 The president is a citizen who is entitled to represent the people of the United States. P 2 We, as citizens, look up to the President as a role model. P 3 The president lied about his affair with Monica Lewinsky. (Christian Science Monitor) For our purposes, P 4 Lying is knowingly not telling the absolute truth.

P 5 If our president lies then it shows us that it is okay to lie. P 6 Lying goes against the code of chivalry. (Refer to the code of chivalry.) Therefore, C Chivalry is dead. A.R.G. Conditions As far as linking goes, P 1 P 2 and P 3 are linked and P 4 is a subargument. Then P 4 P 5 and P 6 are linked leading to the conclusion. P 1 definitely passes the A condition because it is common knowledge that the president represents the United States.

It is positively relevant to P 2 because it ties into the idea that because our president lied he is not chivalrous, therefore chivalry being dead. It also passes the G condition because it is linked with the other premises that support the subargument. P 2 is also acceptable because once again it is common knowledge. It is negatively relevant to P 3, but passes on the G because it offers support to the subargument. P 3 is acceptable because it is taken from a newspaper. It is positively relevant to the subargument, P 4 and passes on the G due to the fact that it offers support to the conclusion.

P 4 is a subargument, and because it's premises pass the A condition is automatically passes the A condition. It is positively relevant to P 5 because it is talking about lying which ties directly with the conclusion. Believing this premise true and bringing it together with the other premises, it passes the G condition. P 5 is a little wishy washy, so we will pass it provisionally, hoping that the R and G condition pass. It is positively relevant to P 6 and it passes on the G condition due to the fact it is talking about the connection between lying, the president, and the code of chivalry. P 6 is acceptable on the basis that it was a premise defended elsewhere.

It is positively relevant to the conclusion and passes on the grounds when taken collectively with all the other premises. So our argument, passing all the proper conditions, is cogent. Counter Argument "The president of the United States is a representative of the people. His main job is to guide this country into economic prosperity and solve many of the current problems in the United States today.

We as citizens, have no right to pry into the personal life of the president and should only be concerned with his governmental duties. Therefore, your argument (previous example) is unacceptable. (Deductive Reasoning) P 1 The president of the United States is a representative of the people. P 2 His main job is to guide this country into economic prosperity and solve the current problems in the United States today. P 3 We have no right to pry into the personal life of the president. P 4 We should only be concerned with the president's governmental duties.

Therefore, C Your argument is unacceptable. A.R.G. Conditions P 1 and P 2 are premises that could stand on their own. P 3 and P 4 are definitely connected because they offer the most support for my conclusion. As far as the A.R.G. conditions, P 1 is acceptable because it is common knowledge. It is positively relevant to P 2, supporting the fact that he guides our country. It also passes on the grounds because it goes towards supporting the conclusion. P 2 is acceptable because again it is based on common knowledge.

It is definitely relevant to P 3. But, whether it is positively relevant depends on your own opinion. And it passes on grounds because it is offering support for the conclusion. P 3 it pretty much an opinion and depending on your own views would depend on whether or not to choose it to be acceptable. It is definitely relevant to the conclusion and it counts in favor of P 4 so it is positively relevant to P 4. Pushing the acceptability aside, if we belief this to be true then it passes on the G. P 4 passes on the same conditions and in the same way as P 3 did.

P 4 is based on opinion and it depends on your own views In Final Analysis As one can clearly see, the examples that we provided clearly establish the resolution that chivalry is dead. We provided clear and cogent arguments, which demonstrate that the Chivalric Code is something of the past that died out a long time ago. The world has outgrown the moral codes that we once lived by. Small hints and broad generalizations of chivalry can still be applied to everyday life, but the practice of chivalry is and has been dead for a long time.

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