• because not everyone is going to agree on the correct answers to questions it is extremely important to give reasons why you think one answer is better than another 
• arguments 
• not just a verbal dispute about some matte. Rather, it is a way of articulating reasons 
• an argument is a series of statements where the last statement supposedly follows from or is supported by conclusion, and the first statements are called the premises 
• validity 
• the first way an argument can be good is if its premises actually do support its conclusions 
• the first type of arguments are valid arguments and the second type are invalid arguments 
• an argument is valid if its conclusion follows from its premises 
• an argument id valid if it satisfies the following condition: If its premises were true, then its conclusion would have to be true  
• premises 1 could be true and premises could be true but the conclusion might still be false 
• the conclusion doesn't follow from the premises. 
• its not the case that if its premises was true then its conclusion would have to be true 
• soundness 
• of our argument is valid and its premises is also true then the argument is sound
• an argument is sound if it is valid and has all true premises 
• an argument is sound if it satisfies the following two conditions 
• it is valid 
• all of its premises are true 
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• philosophers often need to express thoughts and push limits of language, because they want to consider unfamiliar ideas and odd situations 
• a lot of philosophy is analysis and criticism
• criticism of the concepts and values you inherit and of the ideas you encounter in the work of others 

• unquestionable - too evident to be doubted 
• some skills you need to master to do well in philosophy 
• analyzing statements  and arguments 
• imagining alternatives to familiar views and situations 
• stating things explicitly, clearly, and succinctly 

• our values and concepts are the building blocks play a big role in determining what we do an who we are 
• having a capacity to reflect on one's reasons is another part of being human 
• philosophy means thinking as hard and as clearly as one can about some of the most interesting and enduring problems human minds have ever encountered 
• the philosopher constructs arguments, theories, positions, or criticisms in an attempt to persuade his or her most intelligent and perceptive opponents 
• withholding assent- not knowing whether something is true or false based of lack of information 
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