LESSON 4: Validity or Strength of Arguments

Question 1

What are the two kinds of arguments discussed in this lesson?

Answer 1

Inductive and deductive arguments

Question 2

What does a deductive argument aim to provide?

Answer 2

Decisive support for its conclusions

Question 3

What are good deductive arguments characterized as?

Answer 3

Valid and sound

Question 4

What does an inductive argument aim to provide?

Answer 4

Probable support for its conclusions

Question 5

What are good inductive arguments characterized as?

Answer 5

Strong and cogent

Question 6

Fill in the blank: A deductive argument is one where the premises ______ the conclusion.

Answer 6

guarantee or necessitate

Question 7

Fill in the blank: An inductive argument is one where the premises make the conclusion ______.

Answer 7

probable

Question 8

What is the structure of a deductive argument?

Answer 8

If the premises are true, the conclusion must be true

Question 9

What is the structure of an inductive argument?

Answer 9

If the premises are true, the conclusion is probably true

Question 10

What is ‘inference to the best explanation’ also known as?

Answer 10

Abduction

Question 11

What type of arguments does deduction include?

Answer 11

• Mathematical arguments
• Logical arguments
• Arguments from definition

Question 12

What type of arguments does induction include?

Answer 12

• Arguments from analogy
• Arguments from qualified authority
• Causal inferences
• Scientific hypothetical reasoning
• Extrapolations from samples

Question 13

True or False: An argument can be true or false.

Answer 13

False

Question 14

What is a valid argument structure?

Answer 14

An argument structure where the truth of the premises guarantees the truth of the conclusion

Question 15

What is a sound argument?

Answer 15

A valid argument with true premises

Question 16

What is an unsound argument?

Answer 16

An argument that is either invalid or has at least one false premise

Question 17

What is truth in relation to propositions?

Answer 17

A true proposition accurately represents reality

Question 18

Fill in the blank: An inductive argument is strong if the premises, if true, would demonstrate that the conclusion is ______.

Answer 18

likely to be true

Question 19

What term is used for inductive arguments that have all true premises and strong support?

Answer 19

Cogent

Question 20

What is the opposite of a cogent argument?

Answer 20

Uncogent

Question 21

True or False: All sound arguments are valid.

Answer 21

True

Question 22

True or False: All valid arguments are sound.

Answer 22

False

Question 23

What is the difference between validity and truth?

Answer 23

Validity is about the structure of the argument, while truth pertains to the propositions within it

Question 24

What happens if an argument is valid and has all true premises?

Answer 24

The conclusion must be true

Question 25

What does a strong inductive argument provide?

Answer 25

More or less strong reason for accepting the conclusion

Question 26

What is the conclusion of a valid argument if the premises are true?

Answer 26

The conclusion must necessarily be true

Question 27

Fill in the blank: A deductive argument is valid if it has a ______ structure.

Answer 27

valid

Question 28

What is the definition of Truth in arguments?

Answer 28

Propositions are true if they accurately represent what is the case, otherwise they are false.

Question 29

What does Strength refer to in an inductive argument?

Answer 29

In an inductive argument, the truth of the premises would make the conclusion probably true.

Question 30

What is Cogency in the context of inductive arguments?

Answer 30

An inductive argument is cogent if it is strong and all its premises are true.

Question 31

What is the formula for a Cogent Argument?

Answer 31

All True Premises + Strong Inductive Support = Cogent Argument.

Question 32

Can an inductive argument be valid?

Answer 32

No, an inductive argument cannot be valid.

Question 33

Why can't an inductive argument be valid?

Answer 33

Because a valid argument guarantees the truth of the conclusion with 100% certainty, while an inductive argument only justifies its conclusion to some level of probability less than 100%.

Question 34

What does Soundness mean in deductive arguments?

Answer 34

A deductive argument is sound if it has a valid structure and all its premises are true.

Question 35

What is the difference between Validity and Soundness?

Answer 35

Validity only concerns the structure of an argument, but soundness requires both validity and true premises.

Question 36

What is the definition of a Valid argument?

Answer 36

In a valid deductive argument, the truth of the premises would make the conclusion necessarily true.

Question 37

What characterizes a Strong inductive argument?

Answer 37

In a strong inductive argument, the truth of premises would make the conclusion probably true.

Question 38

What is an example of a deductive argument?

Answer 38

If Jones is a baseball player, then Jones is an athlete. Jones is a baseball player. Thus, Jones is an athlete.

Question 39

What terms categorize the argument: 'Everyone who lives in Los Angeles lives in California. Everyone who lives in California lives in the United States. Therefore, everyone who lives in Los Angeles lives in the United States.'?

Answer 39

Valid, Sound.

Question 40

What terms categorize the inductive argument: 'In the past, it has snowed in Alaska every winter for the last 100 years. Therefore, it will probably snow in Alaska next winter.'?

Answer 40

Strong, Cogent.

Question 41

Fill in the blank: A deductive argument is sound if it has a valid structure and all its _______.

Answer 41

premises are true.

Question 42

Fill in the blank: A cogent argument is strong and has _______.

Answer 42

true premises.

Question 43

What describes the argument: 'All cats have four legs. That animal is a cat, therefore it has four legs.'?

Answer 43

Deductive.

Question 44

What describes the argument: 'All the whales I saw were gray. Therefore all whales are gray.'?

Answer 44

Inductive.

Question 45

What describes the argument: 'The vast majority of Americans own yachts. Since Carla is an American, she probably owns a yacht.'?

Answer 45

Weak.

Question 46

What describes the argument: 'All the students who passed the midterm exam passed the final exam as well. Ethan passed the final exam. Therefore, Ethan passed the midterm exam.'?

Answer 46

Invalid.