POV OBJECTIONS
POV objections
A sidelight on the notion of a valid argument is the idea that whenever we are not talking about possible facts but about possible decisions we are no longer working with truth-functional relationships. That is because we can always consider a decision or a choice from more than one angle--or, to use a term from screenwriting, more than one POV (point of view, referring to where the camera is located). For instance, we can model an argument about Jane's need to study on a set of factual relationships in this way:
Jane will pass only if she studies.
Jane wants to pass.
Therefore, Jane ought to study.
The problem comes in when we imagine how Jane might have other obligations, such as going to her job, that conflict with any obligation to study. From this POV, it is not true that she should study.
Go back to truth functions.
Go ahead to deductive reasoning.
Go back to the starting page.