Smiling more will make you happy

One concept that I liked to read but wasn't talked about yet was the lesson, "Cause in populations". Through "Cause in populations" the lesson describes how, "there's a higher probability the the effect will follow than if there were not the cause." Thus, when trying to state a cause of an effect concerning large numbers of people, it becomes forced to generalize normal conditions if specific statistical data is not present. For example, the text used an example where some people might say that "Smoking causes lung cancer." Chances are that smoking one cigarette isn't going to cause cancer or even 20, but because the statement concerns a large group of people, through normal conditions, smoking would eventually lead to obtaining cancer. Another example that comes to mind is that eating Mcdonalds everyday would probably cause you to gain unhealthy weight. Because of the large amount of saturated fat, oils, and sugars found in the majority of Mcdonald's fast food, eating Mcdonalds everyday would essentially make you gain unhealthy weight. Thus, this statement would apply to everyone under normal conditions and becomes a "Cause in populations" to obesity.

Mission Critical

I find that the Mission Critical website is very helpful towards communication learning through a number of ways. For instance, the website holds links to a multiple amount of communication topics that would increase anyone's knowledge on arguments and persuasion. Several topics covered include breaking down parts of an argument, analysis of arguments (which includes universal syllogisms and non-universal syllogisms) and fallacies. In "Parts of an argument" readers are able to understand more about the different parts of several types of arguments. This is extremely helpful in real life situations because you would be able to understand the exact point of someone trying to persuade you and thus know how to better react to it. Another reason why this is useful is because the website has examples in their lessons to better explain the subject at hand. Lastly, this website also gives the option to quiz the reader on the lesson and then tell them if they got the answer right or if they were incorrect, the reason for their mistake. With a plethora of links, examples, and quizzes relating to our current course lessons, this website is definitely an awesome source for some awesome information.

Your at fault! I think....

Reading through the subsection of Mission Critical's website, "Introduction to Casual Arguments" was extremely helpful in further understanding the complexities of casual reasoning because it showcased different examples and points made in cause and effect situations. For example, in the text, an illegally parked truck has caused a bicycle to cause a series of traffic accidents. Or did it? This text reasoned how a multiple amount of factors could've led to the car accident that followed the bicycle's turn. The first car could have had a past of causing traffic jams because of their sporadic braking or the second car could have been going over the speed limit at the time of the collision. Thus, the strength of casual arguments rely on three factors: how acceptable or demonstrable the implied comparison is, how likely the case of causation seems to be, and how credible the "only significant difference" is. These strengths and prime example has taught me how to be careful in my future endeavors in casual reasoning.

Don't Judge ME

One concept that I wanted to talk more about was the topic of Judging Analogies that was found in Chapter 12 of Epstein's book. In this section of the chapter he writes how we should look at arguments made through analogies and be able to judge them better through a system of steps. He cites examples from Magic Johnson having HIV, Homosexual marriage, and Government deficit. I like all of the examples he made in the text but one that really spoke to me was the one where Zoe refuted Tom's reasoning of anti-gay marriage through analogy. Through Zoe's analogy, she was able to show that his conclusion could be considered as absurd. And why isn't it? Kim Kardashian's 72 hour marriage is getting press coverage from all over the nation and hailed as simply another "celebrity wedding" yet gay marriages aren't allowed because of the assumption that they would fail the "traditional" system? Shouldn't celebrity weddings be banned entirely then?

Oooh baby what's your sign?

Reasoning by Sign 

            One concept that I found difficult to understand at first was reasoning by sign. Initially, when reading it, I assumed that it meant reasoning through reading one's body language or indicative expressions, symbols, etc. Although I was partially correct, it confused me how when I clicked on the link on our instructor's blog page, I was linked to a website where I couldn't find the label "Reasoning by sign" but only "Argument by Sign". After reading the definition, I had a general understanding but it was still vague. So afterwards I looked for more information concerning reasoning by sign and stumbled on this link for more information and it really helped me streamline the definition of the subject. Also, I looked at everyone else's blogs on our student site and the examples only helped clarify it's meaning. Therefore, reasoning by sign is basically when someone associates a certain item, expression, factor with a person, event, place and assumes things based on their past encounter with the item, expression, or factor. I.e You have clown shoes and a red nose, so you must be a clown.

Money grows on trees. $$$

Reasoning Examples

1). Reasoning by Analogy:

Example : Every successful model knows that they should try to control their weight in order to constantly book jobs. If all models controlled their weight then they would all constantly get job offers.

 

2). Sign Reasoning

                  Example: That person has a book bag, a notepad, and a stressed look on his face. That person must be a college student.

3). Causal Reasoning: 

                   Example: If I'm late to class one more time my professor will give me a nasty look. I was early                        to class so therefore I did not receive a nasty look.

                 

4). Reasoning by Criteria:

Example: If I eat one more bite of this double whipped, caramel drizzled, chocolate chip filled, vanilla, and Hagen Daz chocolate sundae I won't be able to fit in these pants anymore. But I do want new pants, so I'll eat this for today.

5). Reasoning by Example:.

Example: Dogs are a really good pet for you if you want to have a loyal, friendly, and lovable companion. I've received many testimonials revealing how dogs have revitalized their lives and helped them become happier people.

6). Inductive Reasoning:

Example:

Mary : I can't wait for tonight! 

Joe: What's tonight?

Mary: Well it's my birthday and my friends always try to surprise me with a big birthday bash so I'm sure there's one waiting for me at home.

Joe: Am I invited?!

Mary: No.

7). Deductive:  An argument when the conclusion must be true when the premises are true.

Example: Paper is collected from trees that are cut down. Money is made out of paper. Therefore, Money "grows" on trees.

Vanity!

Even though I found this whole section to be helpful to me through a marketing, advertising, and academic perspective I felt that one of the appeals that I liked is the appeal to vanity. This specific appeal is seen plastered everywhere in urban environments. I guarantee that in a large urban city, posters upon posters upon billboards will be seen portraying some sort of material good that is advertised as to boost some aspect of your physical looks. Whether through clothes, makeup, cars, and etc. many people strive to be the best when it comes to having the latest in material goods, which is why appealing to vanity sells. Through appealing to vanity one submits to "apple polishing" which is another term to describe exaggerating the positive effects and attributes of a product to make it seem attractive to consumers or audience. Thus, I found appealing to vanity one of the strongest type of appeals to emotion because it is constantly used in the world around us.

The realities of smoking; an appeal to fear

As I talked previously about in my blog, I feel that one of the strongest appeals to emotion is the natural appeal to fear. Even as caveman, the appeal to fear has kept us striving to survive, hunt, and maintain our families and households. In this advertisement, TobaccoFreeCA an organization against smoking, uses an appeal to fear by shocking the audience with the realities of smoking and what it could do physically and mentally to one's body. Thus, consequently portraying the decaying man in the hospital wheelchair as a highly possible end result of continuous smoking. This advertisement does an extremely good job in its argument because it highlights all the appeals to emotion that cigarette companies have used in order to draw more customers to smoking and uses its own appeal to fear to counter their statements. This is why I love the world of advertising, everything is so multi-dimensional, controversial, and captures worldwide messages in 30 sec or less.

Afraid of the Dark? Buy a Flashlight!

According to the reading, there are various different types of appeals to emotion that people can use in an argument. Someone could appeal to fear, appeal to pity, appeal to vanity, and so forth. One thing that they all have in common though is that their main driving premise is that "you should believe or do something because you feel a certain way." Thus, this appeal or way of reasoning is sometimes referred to as one of the weakest resources for an argument. One appeal to emotion that strikes me differently though was the appeal to fear. Being in advertising, one of the strongest appeals we focuses on is appealing to emotion through print, images, and different types of media. Appeal to fear is used a lot though because everyone wants to feel safe, and by portraying the dangerous aspects of the world, advertisers help sell an endless amount of things from safety products to even overtly luxurious things. Thus, other than vanity, fear sells.