Argument Flashcards
(10 cards)
What is a logical argument?
A group of propositions where one (the conclusion) is claimed to follow from the others (the premises), forming a logical structure.
What is the difference between an argument and a proposition?
A proposition is a single statement that can be true or false; an argument is a set of propositions with a conclusion supported by premises.
What makes an argument deductive?
A deductive argument is one where the conclusion necessarily follows from the premises. If the premises are true, the conclusion must also be true.
What is validity in logic?
Validity refers to the structure of a deductive argument where, if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true.
Can an argument be valid but false?
Yes. An argument can be valid if the structure is correct, even if all the premises and the conclusion are false.
Can an argument have all true statements but still be invalid?
Yes. If the conclusion does not logically follow from the premises, the argument is invalid—even if all statements happen to be true.
What distinguishes inductive from deductive reasoning?
Inductive reasoning deals with probability — the conclusion is likely but not certain. Deductive reasoning seeks certainty — if valid and true, the conclusion must be true.
What does it mean for a conclusion to be ‘contained in the premises’?
It means the conclusion is logically built from the information in the premises, as in a valid deductive argument.
What is an invalid deductive argument?
A deductive argument that has a faulty structure, where the conclusion does not necessarily follow from the premises.
Can a non-argument look like an argument?
Yes. A group of unrelated true statements may appear like an argument but lacks logical connection and does not draw a conclusion from the premises.
