Key Terms Chapter 1-3

Question 1

Deductive Argument

Answer 1

An argument intended to provide logically conclusive support for its conclusion.

Question 2

Inductive argument

Answer 2

An argument in which the premises are intended to provide probable, not conclusive, support for its conclusion.

Question 3

Valid argument

Answer 3

A deductive argument that succeeds in providing conclusive support for its conclusion.

Question 4

invalid argument

Answer 4

A deductive argument that fails to provide conclusive support for its conclusion

Question 5

Truth Presvering

Answer 5

A characteristic of a valid deductive argument in which the logical structure guarantees the truth of the conclusion if the premises are true.

Question 6

Strong Argument

Answer 6

An inductive argument that succeeds in providing probable but not conclusive support for its conclusion.

Question 7

Weak Argument

Answer 7

An inductive argument that fails to provide strong support for its conclusion.

Question 8

Sound Argument

Answer 8

A deductively valid argument that has true premises.

Question 9

Cogent Argument

Answer 9

Strong inductive argument with all true premises.

Question 10

Conditional statement

Answer 10

An “if–then” statement; it consists of the antecedent (the part introduced by the word if) and the consequent (the part introduced by the word then).

Question 11

Antecedent

Answer 11

The first part of a conditional statement (If p, then q), the component that begins with the word if.

Question 12

Consequent

Answer 12

The part of a conditional statement (If p, then q) introduced by the word then.

Question 13

Affirming the antecedent

Answer 13

A valid argument form:

If p, then q.
p.
Therefore, q.

example - If the job is worth doing, then it’s worth doing well.
The job is worth doing.
Therefore, it’s worth doing well.

Question 14

Denying the consequent

Answer 14

A valid argument form:
If p, then q.
Not q.
Therefore, not p.

Example -If Austin is happy, then Barb is happy.
Barb is not happy.
Therefore, Austin is not happy.

Question 15

Hypothetical syllogism

Answer 15

A valid argument made up of three hypothetical, or conditional, statements:

If p, then q.
If q, then r.
Therefore, if p, then r.

Example - If you leave the door open, the cat will get out.
If the cat gets out, it will get hit by a car.
Therefore, if you leave the door open, the cat will get hit by a car.

Question 16

denying the antecedent

Answer 16

An invalid argument form:
If p, then q.
Not p. Therefore, not q.

Example - If Einstein invented the steam engine, then he’s a great scientist.
Einstein did not invent the steam engine.
Therefore, he is not a great scientist.

Question 17

affirming the consequent

Answer 17

An invalid argument form:
If p, then q.
q.
Therefore, p.

Example - If Brandon is the capital of Manitoba, then Brandon is in Manitoba.
Brandon is in Manitoba.
Therefore, Brandon is the capital of Manitoba.

Question 18

disjunctive syllogism

Answer 18

A valid argument form:
Either p or q.
Not p.
Therefore, q.

Example - Either Ralph walked the dog, or he stayed home.
He didn’t walk the dog.
Therefore, he stayed home.

Question 19

3 Key Ingredients Propositional Knowledge

Answer 19

Key ingredients in propositional knowledge:

1. Belief – To know that p you must believe p.
2. Truth – To know that p, your belief that p needs to be true.
3. Justification – To know that p, your true belief that p must to justified

• A lucky guess is a true belief, but we don’t consider it knowledge.
• A belief that’s justified but not true also doesn’t count as knowledge.
  You should be able to explain why you need at least these 3 ingredients in order to know
  something.