Single Idea 18405

[catalogued under 2. Reason / E. Argument / 1. Argument]

Full Idea

In a 'teepee' argument, a number of argumentative planks intersupport each other. No plank is sufficiently strong to establish the position, but each lends credibility to the others because there is the appearance of a unified phenomenon.

Gist of Idea

A 'teepee' argument has several mutually supporting planks to it

Source

Cappelen,H/Dever,Josh (The Inessential Indexical [2013], 01.5)

Book Reference

Cappelen,H/Dever,J: 'The Inessential Indexical' [OUP 2013], p.14


A Reaction

To attack it, they say, you have to identify the separate planks of the argument. It is a moot point whether the teepee might be so imprecise that it is better described as 'coherence'. There is a background support, as well as the planks.