Reasoning Flashcards
Reasoning
provides an explanation for an event through the movement from premises to conclusions in an argument
i.e. the way we justify a conclusion based on the premises
Argument
the presentation of a conclusion supported by one or more premises
Conclusion
the main point of an argument (i.e. the claim or a thesis)
Premise
the evidence presented to support a conclusion
What are the two kinds of reasoning?
- Inductive
- Deductive
Deductive Reasoning
moves from general principles to specific conclusions with no other information than the premises themselves (REQUIRES NO ASSUMPTIONS)
Deductive reasoning example from class
Premise 1: All dogs are hairy
Premise 2: This animal has no hair
Conclusion: The animal is not a dog
My own example of deductive reasoning
Premise 1: The gas light in a car comes on when gas is low.
Premise 2: My car’s gas light is on.
Conclusion: My car is low on gas.
Validity
the conclusion follows logically and inseparably from the premises
*does not matter if the premises are true, as long as the conclusion follows from the premises
*regarding validity, it is impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion to be false
Soundness
the argument is valid and the premises are true
Own example of an argument that is valid but not sound
Premise 1: Only fish can survive in the water (untrue premise).
Premise 2: Dolphins live in the water.
Conclusion: Dolphins are fish.
Own example of an argument that is valid and sound
Premise 1: The gas light in a car comes on when gas is low.
Premise 2: My car’s gas light is on.
Conclusion: My car is low on gas.
Inductive Reasoning
when we rely on an assumption in order to draw the conclusion from a premise
*typically moves from specific observations to general principles
Inductive reasoning example from class
Premise 1: Every dog I’ve ever seen has hair
Conclusion: Therefore, every dog has hair
Own example of inductive reasoning (including the warrant)
Premise: Every bird I’ve ever seen can fly.
Warrant: The sample of birds I’ve seen is representative of all birds.
Conclusion: Therefore, all birds can fly.
Warrant
the assumption that connects a premise to a claim in inductive reasoning
Warrant example from class
Premise 1: Every dog I’ve ever seen has hair
Warrant: The sample of dogs that I’ve seen is representative of all dogs
Conclusion: Therefore, every dog has hair
How are deductive arguments assessed?
In terms of validity and in soundness
How are inductive arguments assessed?
On a continuum between strong and weak induction
Strong inductive argument from class
The sun will rise in the east tomorrow because there is scientific evidence it has done so for trillions of years
Own example of strong inductive argument
Premise: Teenagers who use social media users frequently compare themselves to people they follow.
Premise: Depression rates among teenagers has risen substantially in the past decade.
Conclusion: Social media usage is contributing to high rates of depression among teenagers.
Weak inductive argument from class
Every dog I’ve seen has hair, so all dogs have hair
Confirmation Bias
the tendency to notice only instances that support a pre-informed conclusion and ignore anything that doesn’t support the conclusion
Hypothesis
a specific applied statement that describes what I expect the outcome of an empirical test to be
Own example of a weak inductive argument
Premise: Every bird I’ve ever seen can fly.
Warrant: The sample of birds I’ve seen is representative of all birds.
Conclusion: Therefore, all birds can fly.
Scientific Process
movement from inductive reasoning in the construction of a theory, to deductive reasoning to empirically testing a hypothesis based on a theory
Falsifiability
the ability to prove that a hypothesis is wrong
Verisimilitude
the resemblance of truth
*a test that supports a hypothesis doesn’t prove a hypothesis, it adds verisimilitude
What does a hypothesis come from?
A theory, which is produced from inductive reasoning
What does the conclusion from an inductive argument become?
It turns into the premise in the deductive argument
What does the conclusion in a deductive argument become?
A hypothesis
*for a hypothesis to be supported, it must be sound (?)
Create your own theory and hypothesis from an inductive and deductive argument
Inductive Reasoning
Premise: For the past week I have been on my phone for multiple hours before bed.
Premise: For the past week, I have woken up multiple times throughout the night.
Conclusion (theory): Blue light before bed disrupts your sleep cycle.
Deductive Reasoning
Premise: Blue light before bed disrupts your sleep cycle.
Premise: I set up an experiment.
Hypothesis: People that spend time on their phone before bed will wake up in the middle of the night more, compared to those who don’t spend time on their phone before bed.
Example of constructing a theory and hypothesis from class
Inductive Reasoning
Premise (observation): bands of coyotes appear to have smaller litters after hearing a lot of vocalizations from rival bands
Conclusion (theory): more vocalizations from rival bands lead to smaller litters the following spring
Deductive Reasoning
Premise 1 (theory): more vocalizations from rival bands lead to smaller litters the following spring
Premise 2 (test): I set up an experiment
Conclusion (hypothesis): I will see smaller litters from the bands
