Unofficial Definitions Flashcards
What do Declarative Sentences do?
Assert a proported fact that CAN be true or false.
What is this sentence an example of: “Even middle schoolers know to cite their sources.”
A declarative sentence.
What is an Interrogative Sentence?
A sentence that poses a question and CANNOT be true or false but can be reasonable or unreasonable.
What kind of sentence is this: “Do middle schoolers know to cite their sources?”
An interrogative sentence.
What is an Imperative Sentence?
A sentence that gives a command and CANNOT be true or false but can be reasonable or unreasonable.
What kind of sentence is this: “Cite your sources!”
An imperative sentence.
Can an Exclamatory Sentence be true or false?
No, it wouldn’t make sense to ask if it was.
What kind of sentence is this: “Oh, middle schoolers and their writing!”
An exclamatory sentence.
What are the only kind of sentences can show up in an argument? And what is the exception?
Declarative sentences. Interrogatives can also be in arguments as long as the have the same affect as a declarative (ex: rhetorical questions).
Which if these sentences CAN be true or false: exclamatory, interrogative, imperative, or declarative?
Declarative.
True or False: Every declarative sentence can form part of an argument.
False. i.e. vague sentences
What kind of sentence is this: “What is the maximum height of a short man?”
A vague sentence. “Short” is too vague.
Define Vague Sentences.
Sentences that leave its interpreters UNSURE if it would be true in that situation or not.
True or False: Useful sentences in arguments (aka ones you should bracket) are sentences that are able to be determinedly true or false.
True. Sentences that simply express feelings or attitudes are not useful (i.e. “yuck”).
Fill in the blank: Garbage in, garbage ____.
Out.
What is the Logician’s Promise?
TRUE premises –> Logicians Approved Arguments –> TRUE conclusions.
What are the 4 independent problems with an argument?**
1) One or more PREMISES is false (even if logicians are able to factually determine such).
2) The CLAIM is false: the truth of the premises doesn’t provide support for the conclusion.
3) The premises are IRRELEVANT to the truth of the conclusion.
4) The support provided for the conclusion by the premises is vulnerable to NEW EVIDENCE (aka, new evidence would jeopardize the premises’ support to the conclusion.
What kind of argument has premises that lend ABSOLUTE SUPPORT to the conclusion?
A deductive argument.
What kind of argument has premises that make the conclusion PROBABLE or LIKELY?
An inductive argument.
True or False: In a good deductive argument, the claim is a dead certainty.
True.
True or False: In a bad inductive argument, the claim is a little risky.
True.
Fill in the blank: Memory is infallible, therefore arguments that use memory as a big source of evidence are commonly _______ arguments.
Inductive.
True or False: An inductive argument can still be a good argument even if it violates #2 of the independent problems list.
True.
Can a deductive argument have premises that violate #2 of the independent problems list?
No. For an argument to be deductive, its premises must lend absolute support to its conclusion.
