5. Question 4. Argument diagrams

Given that chatGPT is based on language it isn't surprising that it doesn't cope well with argument diagram questions. In response to some questions it will gamely try to represent the requested diagram but rarely makes a good job of doing so. Apart from being language based there are additional problems. There are different kinds of entities that might be described as argument diagrams and they are not all of the kind used in Higher Philosophy. If you ask it specifically about the kind of argument diagram used in informal logic and the critical thinking movement there is a better chance of getting something that fits with this course, however, even then there is no unanimity on the names used. I had most success if I specifically told chatGPT what was required. Even then a small change in the wording of the question led big changes in the output. The most success I had was with the following wording:

In answering this question use the following definitions.

1. A serial argument: an argument composed of simple arguments joined together to form a chain so that one premise is offered in support of another statement, which would be called an intermediate conclusion, which in turn is offered as support to the final conclusion. A serial argument can have more than one step and so can have more than one intermediate conclusion.
2. A convergent argument: an argument with more than one premise but with each premise giving individual support to the conclusion.
3. A linked argument: an argument with more than one premise where the premises don't give individual support to the conclusion but jointly support the conclusion.
4. A complex argument: an argument with multiple premises that support the premises by being a combination of serial, convergent, and/or linked arguments.

Each type of argument can be represented by a corresponding diagram.

Answer the following questions.

(a) Which diagram best represents the following argument?
‘Driving too fast causes accidents. It also wastes fuel. So you shouldn’t drive too fast.’

(b) Which diagram best represents the following argument?
‘The cause of diabetes is either inherited or environmental. Seeing as the cause of diabetes is not environmental, it must be inherited.’

(c) Which diagram best represents the following argument?
‘It’s really icy, so the streets will be slippy. Therefore you need to be careful when you’re walking today.’

(d) Which diagram best represents the following argument?
‘Too much coffee leads to headaches. Headaches cause poor performance. Therefore too much coffee causes poor performance.’

In each case explain your answer.

***GPT says convergent, linked, serial, serial***

(a) The diagram that best represents the argument ‘Driving too fast causes accidents. It also wastes fuel. So you shouldn’t drive too fast’ is a convergent argument. This can be represented by the following diagram:

Premise 1: Driving too fast causes accidents.
Premise 2: Driving too fast wastes fuel.
Conclusion: You shouldn't drive too fast.

This is a convergent argument because each premise gives individual support to the conclusion, without relying on any other premises.

(b) The diagram that best represents the argument ‘The cause of diabetes is either inherited or environmental. Seeing as the cause of diabetes is not environmental, it must be inherited’ is a linked argument. This can be represented by the following diagram:

Premise 1: The cause of diabetes is either inherited or environmental.
Premise 2: The cause of diabetes is not environmental.
Conclusion: The cause of diabetes must be inherited.

This is a linked argument because the premises do not give individual support to the conclusion, but jointly support the conclusion.

(c) The diagram that best represents the argument ‘It’s really icy, so the streets will be slippy. Therefore you need to be careful when you’re walking today’ is a serial argument. This can be represented by the following diagram:

Premise 1: It’s really icy.
Intermediate conclusion: The streets will be slippy.
Conclusion: You need to be careful when you’re walking today.

This is a serial argument because it is composed of simple arguments joined together to form a chain, with one premise offered in support of an intermediate conclusion, which is in turn offered as support to the final conclusion.

(d) The diagram that best represents the argument ‘Too much coffee leads to headaches. Headaches cause poor performance. Therefore too much coffee causes poor performance’ is a serial argument. This can be represented by the following diagram:

Premise 1: Too much coffee leads to headaches.
Intermediate conclusion: Headaches cause poor performance.
Conclusion: Too much coffee causes poor performance.

This is a serial argument because it is composed of simple arguments joined together to form a chain, with one premise offered in support of an intermediate conclusion, which is in turn offered as support to the final conclusion.

In each case GPT claims to say what the diagram would look like but, of course, it hasn't drawn the argument it has simply given the argument in standard form.

In (d) chatGPT is gives the wrong answer. Saying 'Too much coffee leads to headaches.' is not trying to establish anything; it is asserting a causal connection. In (c) there is, also, a causal connection between it being icy and it being slippy but the difference is that in (c) the statement isn't simply asserting that such a connection exists it is trying to establish the fact that it is slippy by asserting that it is icy.

Almost certainly this last question will also present a challenge to many pupils and it would be a good example to use to help pupils understand the difference between a causal connection and an argument. The key thing to consider is whether there is any attempt to establish something as true or whether a causal connection is simply being asserted as true.