ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces students studying philosophy to a way of thinking about philosophy – as argument – which is also a way of thinking philosophically. Philosophers distinguish between two types of argument – deductive and inductive. Many arguments involve quite a complex structure, with some premises establishing an initial conclusion, which is then used as a premise to establish a second conclusion. In coming to understand an argument, it can be very helpful to create an argument map. This is a visual diagram of how the argument works – its 'logical structure'. The chapter discusses three skills that they need to do philosophy well: reasoning, reading and writing. In hypothetical reasoning, it aims to work out the best hypothesis that would explain or account for some experience or fact. A hypothesis is a proposal that needs to be confirmed or rejected by reasoning or experience.
