AbstractThis paper analyzes the concept of the Theory of Knowledge. The paper is supported by the fact that reason is built on premises and if the premise is valid then the logically drawn conclusion is also valid. The various criteria that can be used to check for the validity of the premises are enlisted as a part of acceptability criteria. The paper thus highlights how one can find if the premises supporting a certain conclusion are reasonable or not.
Premise is a set of statements from which we inferentially derive a conclusion. The transition or movement from premises to conclusion is based on the logical inference upon which the argument relies. The premise is related to reasoning for each conclusion. The truth of a conclusion and its reasoning are inferentially derived from its premises. The pattern of reasoning that leads the premise into a conclusion in a logical argument defines the reliability of inference. When the truth of premises guarantees the truth of conclusion, the argument is said to be deductive inference. In such a case, the premises provide the complete and absolute support for the conclusion to the extent that if the premises are true, then it follows that the conclusion must also be true. For the premise to be reasonable, they must be free from vagueness, obscurity and ambiguity.
Also, the premise must be geared to the intended audience, who endorse and accept the reasonable agents laid by the solid premises. Murray and Kujundzic (2005) outline five acceptance criteria, which if met give us the reason to accept the premises as reasonable premises. The first acceptable criterion is termed as the Textual Support which refers to the support of the stated premises in writing.
The reasonability of the premises can be verified by the writing which could be a part of the argument or could be cited in another argument. Another criterion that validates the premises is when the premises are related to the claims that are either priori true or posteriori true. For claims that are priori true, the truth of the claim is defined by the logical relation or the definition itself. However, for posteriori claims, the truthfulness of premises is supported by experience. The level of sensory appeal that the premises render can also constitute good grounds for accepting the claims as true.
This method of premise verification might require double checking for cases where our sensory observation can be fallacious. The level of interaction while we observe the phenomenon coupled with the increasing probability of being right with the sensory reaction makes sensory appeal a successful method of verifying the premises. Availability of adequate testimony in some cases could be a powerful tool for checking the truthfulness of the premises. However using the testimony as a proof does involve a critical analysis of the involved factors. The plausibility of the claim, the position and ability of the witness and the number of other witnesses are some external factors that must be evaluated before using a witness as a proof of suggested premises. Apart from the external factors, there also some internal factors such as reputation of the witness and the degree of interpretation embedded in the claim which must be closely examined.
The authority level of the experts within the recognizable field may also be a deciding factor while checking the reasonability of the premises. If the authority level linked to the premise is a renowned and recognized entity within that area of operation, the premise can be considered as reasonable after due examination of the scenario. The premise can be provisionally accepted till all the other conditions of the argument are met. The first step towards using the acceptability criteria to check for the validity of the premise is to distinguish the premises within a piece of argument.
Referenceshttp://www. ux1. eiu. edu/~cfbxb/class/1900/inf/markers. htmMurray, M.
, & Kujundzic, N., (2005), Critical Reflections: A Textbook for Critical Thinking. McGill – Queen’s Press – MQUP. Retreived March 31, 2009 from http://books. google. co. in/books? id= HmAOzdLb1AwC.
