Arguments Flashcards
What is the Latin origin of the term “argument”?
The term “argument” is derived from the Latin word “argumentum,” which means “evidence, ground, support, or proof.”
How is the term “argument” commonly misinterpreted in everyday language?
In everyday language, “argument” is often associated with shouting, fighting, or dispute, which is a narrow and incorrect interpretation of its meaning in logic.
What are the normative roles of arguments in logic?
Arguments in logic serve various roles, including defending a point of view, highlighting problems in a theory, demonstrating the importance of principles, providing evidence for claims, and persuading others to accept a position.
What are some examples of conclusion indicators?
Conclusion indicators include “therefore,” “accordingly,” “so,” “it follows that,” “consequently,” “thus,” and “probably.”
What are premise indicators?
Premise indicators include “because,” “for,” “since,” “however,” “moreover,” “given that,” “assuming that,” “due to,” “inasmuch as,” and “as shown by.”
How many types of arguments are there in logic, and what are they?
There are three types of arguments in logic: deductive arguments, inductive arguments, and analogical arguments.
What is deductive reasoning, and how is it defined?
Deductive reasoning is a logical process in which a conclusion is drawn from general premises assumed to be true. An argument is deductive if its conclusion cannot be false when all its basic premises are true.
Provide an example of a deductive argument.
All librarians are voracious readers. Jovani is a librarian. Therefore, Jovani is a voracious reader.
What distinguishes inductive arguments from deductive arguments?
Inductive arguments are intended to establish or increase the probability of their conclusion, whereas deductive arguments aim to draw a conclusion that must be true if the premises are true.
Give examples of inductive arguments.
Examples of inductive arguments include generalizations such as “all female students at the university of the West Indies are beautiful” or predictions like “Johnson will wear a brown shoe tomorrow.”
Explain the difference between explicit and implicit reasoning.
Explicit reasoning involves stating a position clearly and unambiguously, while implicit reasoning involves expressing a position indirectly or through indirect communication.
Provide an example of implicit reasoning.
“I will pay for education,” says a politician. “He also said a year ago that he was going to pay for healthcare.”
Provide an example of explicit reasoning.
“I will pay for education,” says a politician. “His budget is implausible, and he cannot fulfill his promises.”
What is an analogical argument, and where is it commonly used?
An analogical argument is an explicit representation of analogical reasoning and is frequently used in philosophical, scientific, and legal reasoning to draw conclusions based on similarities between two things.
How does Aristotle employ analogical arguments in his work?
In “Historia Animalium,” Aristotle claims that feathers are to birds as scales are to reptiles, illustrating the use of analogical arguments to establish similarities between different entities.
