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“Logic and rhetoric, or three points about theory"

“Logic and rhetoric, or three points about theory". New Zealand Airport Association 14 October 2009 Stuart Birks, Massey University. Logic and rhetoric. Logic  proof Rhetoric  persuasion Adam Smith on rhetoric “Proof” in law is not proof It is persuading a judge or jury

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“Logic and rhetoric, or three points about theory"

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  1. “Logic and rhetoric, or three points about theory" New Zealand Airport Association 14 October 2009 Stuart Birks, Massey University

  2. Logic and rhetoric • Logic  proof • Rhetoric  persuasion • Adam Smith on rhetoric • “Proof” in law is not proof • It is persuading a judge or jury • How much academic analysis is rhetoric?

  3. Three main points about theories • Theories are just analogies. • Evidence does not prove the validity a theory. • Current wisdom is based on convention.

  4. 1. Analogies • Saxe and elephants

  5. 1. Analogies (cont.) • Theory as • paradigm (Kuhn) • analogy (‘as if’ alternative/simplified structure) • metaphor • frame • use of selection, emphasis, exclusion, elaboration

  6. 2. Evidence and proof • data and consistency • Friedman “Observed facts are necessarily finite in number; possible hypotheses, infinite. If there is one hypothesis that is consistent with the available evidence, there are always an infinite number that are.” • A significant result does not give the only possible explanation

  7. 3. Conventional wisdom • Current wisdom is based on convention • Galbraith - "conventional wisdom" • Kuhn - "normal science" ("best practice"?) • Hardin - "street-level epistemology”

  8. In summary, we: • Accept many commonly held views as if well-founded; • Read a lot into simplified analyses; • Assume, by analogy, that structures apply to the real world; • Treat apparently plausible explanations as if they are the only explanations; • Also… • Use seriously flawed techniques and reasoning.

  9. Theory B Empirical Analysis A C Real world

  10. “Logic and rhetoric, or three points about theory“ New Zealand Airport Association 14 October 2009 Stuart Birks, Massey University

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