The Argument Clinic

the “Argument Clinic” sketch from the television series Monty Python’s Flying Circus, episode 29

One of the first concepts in any introductory course in philosophy is that of an argument:

An argument is a collection of statements, one of which is the argument’s conclusion and the rest of which are the argument’s premises, which are intended to support or justify the conclusion.

Students can readily recall and repeat this definition (or variations on it), but are often initially unsure of how to apply it. Monty Python can help with that!

Samuel Fletcher (Philosophy) publishes a pedagogical note in the American Philosophical Association's "Teaching and Learning Video Series" on how to teach about arguments using Monty Python's "Argument Clinic" sketch.

Read the blog here.

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