Initial Vocab Flashcards
Logic
Study of methods for evaluating whether the premises of an argument adequately supports its conclusion
Argument
Set of statements where some of the statements are intended to support another
Premise
Statement offered in support in an argument
Conclusion
Claim statement to be supported
Statement
Declarative sentence that has a truth value (is either true or false)
True
Describes things as they are
False
Describes thing as they are not
Deductive Argument
One in which the premises are intended to guarantee the conclusion
Inductive argument
One in which the premises are intended to make the conclusion probable, with no guarantee
Deductive Logic
Study of methods for evaluating whether the premises of an argument guarantee its conclusion
Inductive logic
Study of methods for evaluating whether the premises of an argument make its conclusion probable
Valid Argument
One in which it is necessary, that if the premises are true, then the conclusion is true
Invalid Argument
One in which it is not necessary that, if the premises are true, then the conclusion is true
Sound Argument
A valid argument in which all of the premises are true
Unsound Argument
Is either invalid or has at least one false premise
Argument Form
Pattern of reasoning
Modus Ponens
- If A, then B
- A
So, 3. B
Substitution Instance
An argument that results from uniformly replacing the variables in that form with statements (or terms)
Valid Argument Form
One in which every substitution instance is valid argument
Formally Valid Argument
One that is valid in virtue of its form
Conditional Statement
An If-Then statement (also called a conditional)
Antecedent
The ‘If’ clause of a conditional
Consequent
The ‘Then’ clause of a conditional
Modus Tollens
- If A, then B
- Not B
So, 3. Not A
Negation
Of a statement is its denial
Hypothetical Syllogism
- If A, then B
- If B, then C
So, 3. If A, then C
Disjunction
An either-or statement
Disjuncts
The parts of a disjunction
Disjunctive Syllogism
- Either A or B
- Not A
So, 3. B
OR
- Either A or B
- Not B
So, 3. A
Constructive Dilemma
- Either A or B
- If A, then C
- If B, then D
So, 4. Either C or D