Verbal Lecture-02

Counter Premise and Intermediate Conclusion:

Counter Premises:

In some arguments, the author includes information that goes against the conclusion of the argument. That information or statement is called counter premise. A question may come in your mind that the author wright an argument to advocate his point, but why he sometimes mentions counter point in his argument? The author includes this information to protect the argument against possible criticism. So a counter premise (i.e a statement that goes against the conclusion of the argument) is written to defend the argument against the possible criticism. For instance,

Maria should not miss today’s lecture because if she miss this lecture, she cannot understand the remaining lectures in coming days.

But somebody may criticize that “Maria is sick today.”

In light of this information, the author’s conclusion becomes weakened. So this statement clearly a criticism of what the author advocates. If the author formulate his argument in such a manner that this criticism is addressed effectively as below:

Even though she is sick today, Maria should not miss today’s lecture because if she miss this lecture, she cannot understand the remaining lectures in coming days.

Notice that the by including counter premise in his argument, the author has defended his argument. The possible criticism that somebody might arise has now addressed effectively by the author. Therefore, the sickness excuse will no longer weaken the argument anymore, because the author explicitly states that he knows about this situation of Maria; but still he advocates not miss today’s lecture.

Example with actual question:

Some researchers suspect that magnetic fields from high-voltage power lines can cause health problems for people who live especially near the lines. However, this is extremely unlikely: Beyond a distance of a few feet, the strength of the magnetic fields from high-voltage power lines is less than the average strength of magnetic fields in homes that are not located near such lines.

Similarly,

The price of sugarcane has fallen by 10% since last month. However, this does not mean that the price of sugar will also fall in coming days, because manufacturers of sugar, usually, adjust the profit margin earned in a month, with a loss incurred in another month of the same year.

Intermediate Conclusion:

Till this point, you have learned that there is only one conclusion of an argument. This conclusion is the main focus of the whole argument. But what if there is another conclusion in the argument, which is not the main conclusion of the argument but an intermediate conclusion. Thus, there can be multiple conclusions in an argument; but there will be only one main conclusion in an argument, that the author try to establish in the argument. Intermediate conclusion can be several. Remember that if the argument ask which of the following is the main conclusion of the argument, you should be careful about discriminating intermediate conclusion from the main conclusion. Such arguments involving intermediate conclusions come in your exam when you perform better than average examiners. So these are medium to hard level questions, and especially tested in boldfaced portions type of questions.

An intermediate conclusion is not the main conclusion of the argument, rather it is the derived statement. For instance,

Since Maria remained the most prominent student in class participation throughout her graduation, she will get first position after completion of the graduation. Since job opportunity in Company X is only given to that student who get first position in graduation, Maria will get job opportunity in Company X.

Here, you have two conclusions in this argument.

Conclusion 1: she will get first position after completion of the graduation.

Conclusion 2: Maria will get job opportunity in Company X.

In deciding about which conclusion is the main conclusion, you need to analyze both in the context of the whole argument and see the sequences of events. Conclusion 1 will happen first, and then Conclusion 2 will establish. Therefore, Conclusion 2 is the main conclusion. i.e,

Intermediate Conclusion: she will get first position after completion of the graduation.

Main Conclusion: Maria will get job opportunity in Company X.

Similarly,

Since David remained the most poor student in class participation throughout her graduation, he will get least position after completion of the graduation. However, since David is best in event organizing and supervising, He will get job opportunity in Restaurant Y.

Here, you can see that the two conclusion are no supporting each other; so an intermediate conclusion can support the main conclusion, but not necessarily. Intermediate conclusion may go against the main conclusion of the argument. As I mentioned you before, always analyze the conclusions in the context of the whole argument and then decide about the main conclusion.

In this argument,

Intermediate Conclusion: he will get least position after completion of the graduation.

Main Conclusion: He will get job opportunity in Restaurant Y.

Now, let’s study a little confusing argument with the two conclusions:

For the last 5 of years, the number of students has increased significantly in universities; while the performance of students has declined. Therefore, we should hire more teachers in universities. According to past data, increase in teacher-student ratio increases the performance of students. Therefore, we can expect that the similar trend will be observed in future.

Here, what is the main conclusion of this argument? Try yourself first before going ahead for explanation.

Few of you will say that “Therefore, we can expect that the similar trend will be observed in future.” is the main conclusion; but unfortunately they are incorrect! Let’s learn how to be confident while deciding which conclusion is main conclusion of the argument.

You need to see the sentences logical structure in the context of the whole argument and apply in two different scenarios:

Scenario 1:

Conclusion 1 is established because of Conclusion 2

“We should hire more teachers in universities”, because “we can expect that the similar trend will be observed in future.”

This clearly makes a sense.

Scenario 2:

Conclusion 2 is established because of Conclusion 1.

“We can expect that the similar trend will be observed in future”, because “we should hire more teachers in universities”

I certainly does not make a sense.

Therefore, Conclusion 1 is the main conclusion of the argument.

Here’s time to attempt a mini quiz related to this topic that will help you to clear in this concept. Click on the ‘Start’ button to begin the quiz.