Module 1: Intros Argument structure and basic reasoning

Question 1

argument components

Answer 1

an argument is made up of premises and a conclusion

Question 2

Propositions

Answer 2

claims or parts of information building up an argument
- universal sentences
-propositions are broken down to premises and conclusions

Question 3

Properties of propositions

Answer 3

-they have truth value
- they are shareable
- they are inter-translatable

Question 4

Premises

Answer 4

The reasons presented to persuade someone that a conclusion is true or probably true
-are propositions that are used in support of the conclusion in a given argument

Question 5

Conclusion

Answer 5

a judgement based on the information obtained through the premises
- proposition that sets out to prove in a given argument

Question 6

Deductive reasoning

Answer 6

-from general to specific
-if all the premises are true then the conclusion must be true, aims to prove the conclusion with certainty
- a good deductive argument is both valid and sound

Question 7

soundness

Answer 7

a valid argument where the premises are actually true
- relies on validity and refers to the content of the argument specifically the truth of the premises
- if an argument is sound then the conclusion is true

Question 8

an argument can be

Answer 8

• valid and sound
• valid but unsound
• invalid and unsound

arguments cannot be invalid but sound, true or false

Question 9

truth preserving

Answer 9

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

Question 10

inductive reasoning

Answer 10

specific to general
- aim to show that the conclusion is probably true
- can be strong and cogent

Question 11

Example of deductive reasoning

Answer 11

-all cats are born with nine lives
-Felix is a cat
-Therefore Felix was born with 9 lives

Question 12

Example of inductive reasoning

Answer 12

-Every time I have walked by that dog, he hasn’t tried to bite me
-so the next time I walk by that dog he wont try to bite me

Question 13

Strength

Answer 13

an argument is strong hen the premises are true which means that the conclusion is probably true
- corresponds with validity

Question 14

Cogency

Answer 14

is a strong argument which has true premises
- corresponds with soundness

Question 15

types of valid arguments

Answer 15

1. Modus Ponens
2. Modus Tollens
3. Hypothetical Syllogism
4. Disjunctive Syllogism
5. Reducitio ad absurdum

Question 16

1. Modus Tollens

Answer 16

-Denying the consequent (then clause)
if P then Q
not Q
therefore not P
-valid and sound

Question 17

types of invalid arguments

Answer 17

1. Affirming the consequent
2. Denying the antecedent
3. Disjunctive Fallacy
4. Ad Hominem
5. Strawman Fallacy
6. Appeal to Authority
7. False Dilemma or False dichotomy
8. Slippery slope fallacy
9. Begging the question
10. Equivocation
11. Post hoc ergo Propter hoc

Question 18

Disjunctive Fallacy

Answer 18

either P or Q
not P
therefore not Q
INCLUSIVE OR
1. I will have a sandwich or a cup of coffee after work
2. I will have a sandwich after work
3. Therefore i wont have a cup of coffee after work
-invalid and unsound

Question 19

Disjunctive Syllogism

Answer 19

either P or Q
not P
therefore Q
EXCLUSIVE OR

1. Serena or Venus won the tennis match
2. Serena won the match
3. Therefore Venus did not win the match

Question 20

Hypothetical Syllogism

Answer 20

if P then Q
if Q then R
therefore if P then R

1. Either there is tea in my mug or there is coffee in my mug
2. There is not tea in my mug
3. Therefore there is coffee in my mug

-valid and sound

Question 21

Reductio ad absurdum

Answer 21

kind of reasoning where you accept some hypothesis for the sake of argument and then you show that the hypothesis leads to a contradiction. The arguer assumes the opposite of the conclusion they want to prove to show that it leads to a contradiction

If P then Q, not Q therefore not P

Question 22

Fallacy

Answer 22

a mistaken belief especially one based on an unsound argument

Question 23

Consequent

Answer 23

last half of a hypothetical proposition whenever the if clause precedes the then clause

Question 24

Antecedent

Answer 24

first half of a hypothetical proposition whenever the if clause precedes the then clause

Question 25

Affirming the consequent

Answer 25

if P then Q
Q
therefore P

if its raining then the grass is wet; the grass is wet therefore it is raining
- invalid and unsound

Question 26

Denying the antecedent

Answer 26

if P then Q
not P
therefore not Q

if its raining then the grass is wet; its not raining therefore the grass is not wet
-invalid and unsound

Question 27

Post hoc ergo propter hoc- Fallacy

Answer 27

P came before Q
P caused Q

Question 28

Soundness

Answer 28

when a deductive argument is valid and all the premises are actually true

Question 29

Strength of inductive arguments

Answer 29

Inductive arguments are not truth preserving they can be more or less strong depending on the premises

Question 30

Cogency

Answer 30

an inductive argument which has true premises and good reasoning

Question 31

Equivocation

Answer 31

using the same term with different meanings

Question 32

appeal to authority fallacy

Answer 32

error of accepting a claim merely because an authority figure endorses it

Question 33

Straw man Fallacy

Answer 33

Misrepresenting someones argument to make it easier to attack

Question 34

valid argument definition

Answer 34

an argument is deductively valid if the conclusion is entailed by or logically follows from the premises

Question 35

invalid argument definition

Answer 35

is a deductive argument that fails to have its conclusion logically follow from the premises

Question 36

Modus Ponens

Answer 36

-Affirming the antecedent (if clause)
- if P then Q, P therefore Q
- if its raining then the grass is wet; it is raining therefore the grass is wet
-P2: false because the grass might be wet from something else
- valid and unsound

Question 37

false dilemma

Answer 37

when the options of an argument do not exhaust the relevant possibilities

Question 38

arguments by analogy

Answer 38

arguments that are hostage to the discovery of unnoticed disanalgies

Question 39

begging the question

Answer 39

assuming the point at issue in attempting to argue for it