Key terms

Question 1

What is a proposition?

Answer 1

A declarative, ‘truth-apt’ statement, they are what we use to make claims about a state of affairs. The sentence could be said in a different language but would still be the same proposition

Question 2

What is a concept?

Answer 2

An abstract idea in the mind, can be coherent or incoherent

Question 3

What does coherent mean?

Answer 3

Make sense

Question 4

What does incoherent mean?

Answer 4

Doesn’t make sense

Question 5

What is an argument?

Answer 5

When one or more propositions (premises) are used to justify another proposition (the conclusion)
An example would be
P1: Socrates is a man
P2: All men are mortal
C: Therefore socrates is mortal

Question 6

What is a premise (P)?

Answer 6

A proposition with an argument that supports another proposition (a conclusion)

Question 7

What is a conclusion (C)?

Answer 7

A proposition with an argument that is supported by one or more other propositions

Question 8

What 2 conditions must an argument meet in order for it to be good?

Answer 8

• the premises must be true (truth condition)
• the premises must together support the conclusion (logic condition)

Question 9

What 2 ways can an argument meet the logic condition?

Answer 9

• the truth of the premises can guarantee the truth of the conclusion (deductive argument)
• the truth of the premises can suggest that the truth of the conclusion id probable (non-deductive argument)

Question 10

What different terms are used to state whether a deductive argument meets the logical and truth conditions?

Answer 10

• If a deductive argument (truth guaranteed) meets the logic condition (the premises together support the conclusion) it is valid; if it doesn’t it is invalid
• If a deductive argument meets both the logic and truth conditions it is sound; if it doesn’t it is unsound

Question 11

What terms are used to state if a non-deductive argument meets the logic and truth conditions?

Answer 11

• If a non-deductive argument (truth of the premises can suggest that the truth of the conclusion is probable) meets the logic condition (the premises together support the conclusion) it is strong; if it doesn’t it is weak
• If it meets both the logic and truth conditions it is cogent; if it doesn’t it is uncogent