Ch. 1: Basic Logical Concepts

Question 1

Logic

Answer 1

The study of the methods and principles used to distinguish correct from incorrect reasoning.

Question 2

Proposition

Answer 2

A statement; what is typically asserted using a declarative sentence, and hence always either true or false—although its truth or falsity may be unknown.

Question 3

Statement

Answer 3

A proposition; what is typically asserted by a declarative sentence, but not the sentence itself. Every statement must be either true or false, although the truth or falsity of a given statement may be unknown.

Question 4

Inference

Answer 4

A process by which one proposition is arrived at and affirmed on the basis of some other proposition or propositions.

Question 5

Argument

Answer 5

Any group of propositions of which one is claimed to follow from the others, which are regarded as providing support or grounds for the truth of that one.

Question 6

Conclusion

Answer 6

In any argument, the proposition to which the other propositions in the argument are claimed to give support, or for which they are given as reasons.

Question 7

Premises

Answer 7

In an argument, the propositions upon which inference is based; the propositions that are claimed to provide grounds or reasons for the conclusion.

Question 8

Premise indicator

Answer 8

In an argument, a word or phrase (like “because” and “since”) that normally signals that what follows it are statements serving as premises.

Question 9

Rhetorical question

Answer 9

An utterance used to make a statement, but which, because it is in interrogative form and is therefore neither true nor false, does not literally assert anything.

Question 10

Enthymeme

Answer 10

An argument that is stated incompletely, the unstated part of it being taken for granted.

Question 11

Validity

Answer 11

A characteristic of any deductive argument whose premises, if they were all true, would provide conclusive grounds for the truth of its conclusion. Such an argument is said to be valid. Validity is a formal characteristic; it applies only to arguments, as distinguished from truth which applies to propositions.

Question 12

Deductive argument

Answer 12

One of the two major types of argument traditionally distinguished, the other being the inductive argument. A deductive argument claims to provide conclusive grounds for its conclusion. If it does provide such grounds, it is valid; if it does not, it is invalid.

Question 13

Inductive argument

Answer 13

One of the two major types of argument traditionally distinguished, the other being the deductive argument. An inductive argument claims that its premises give only some degree of probability, but not certainty, to its conclusion.