What are the strategies for identifying and analyzing assumptions in arguments?

1 Why are assumptions important?

Assumptions play a crucial role in arguments, as they provide the link between the premises and the conclusion. Without assumptions, an argument would either be invalid or incomplete. However, not all assumptions are equally acceptable or reasonable. Some assumptions may be based on faulty logic, biased perspectives, or insufficient evidence. These assumptions can weaken an argument and make it vulnerable to criticism or counter-arguments. Therefore, it is important to identify and analyze the assumptions in an argument, and to challenge them if they are questionable or unsupported.

2 How to identify assumptions?

One way to identify assumptions in an argument is to use the "because" test. This test involves asking yourself why the author or speaker believes that the premises support the conclusion, and what unstated reasons or evidence they are relying on. For example, consider this argument:

Premise: The sky is blue.

Conclusion: It is a sunny day.

Using the "because" test, you can ask yourself: Why does the author or speaker believe that the sky being blue supports the conclusion that it is a sunny day? What unstated reason or evidence are they using? One possible answer is:

Assumption: If the sky is blue, then it is a sunny day.

This is an assumption that the author or speaker is making, but not stating explicitly. It is also a questionable assumption, as there may be other factors that affect the weather, such as clouds, wind, or temperature. By using the "because" test, you can identify this assumption and evaluate its validity.

3 How to analyze assumptions?

Another way to identify and analyze assumptions in an argument is to use the "what if" test. This test involves asking yourself what would happen if the assumption were false or different, and how that would affect the argument. For example, using the same argument as before:

Premise: The sky is blue.

Conclusion: It is a sunny day.

Assumption: If the sky is blue, then it is a sunny day.

Using the "what if" test, you can ask yourself: What if the assumption were false or different? What if the sky is blue, but it is not a sunny day? How would that affect the argument? One possible answer is:

Counter-example: The sky is blue, but it is very cold and windy.

This is a counter-example that shows that the assumption is not always true, and that it does not necessarily imply the conclusion. By using the "what if" test, you can analyze the assumption and see how it weakens the argument.

4 How to challenge assumptions?

A third way to identify and analyze assumptions in an argument is to use the "so what" test. This test involves asking yourself why the assumption matters, and how it relates to the main point or purpose of the argument. For example, using the same argument as before:

Premise: The sky is blue.

Conclusion: It is a sunny day.

Assumption: If the sky is blue, then it is a sunny day.

Using the "so what" test, you can ask yourself: Why does the assumption matter? How does it relate to the main point or purpose of the argument? One possible answer is:

Relevance: The assumption matters because the author or speaker wants to persuade or inform the audience about the weather or the mood of the day.

This is the relevance of the assumption, which shows how it connects to the overall goal or message of the argument. By using the "so what" test, you can challenge the assumption and see how it affects the persuasiveness or informativeness of the argument.

5 How to apply these strategies?

By utilizing these strategies for identifying and analyzing assumptions in arguments, you can improve your critical thinking skills and apply them to your problem-solving and decision-making processes. This will enable you to evaluate the quality and credibility of the arguments you encounter or produce, identify gaps or weaknesses in the reasoning, compare different perspectives or viewpoints, generate alternative or creative solutions or conclusions, and test them against different assumptions and scenarios. Ultimately, these skills can help you become a more effective and confident thinker, communicator, and decision-maker in a variety of contexts.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?