types of argument and reasoning

Question 1

what is deductive reasoning?

Answer 1

where if the premises of the argument are true, then the conclusion must also be true.
e.g. ‘All men are mortal. Harold is a man. Therefore, Harold is mortal.’

Question 2

what is inductive reasoning?

Answer 2

constructs or evaluates general propositions that are derived from specific examples
e.g. ‘Europeans concluded that all swans were white, because all swans they had seen were white. They realised they were wrong when they discovered black swans in Australia.’

Question 3

when can an inductive argument be a weak argument?

Answer 3

when it is based on only very little observation to draw a general conclusion
e.g.’There were 2 robberies in my neighbourhood. Both were committed by black teenagers. Therefore, all crime is committed by black teenagers.’

Question 4

Can the conclusion be wrong with both arguments?

Answer 4

inductive - yes, the conclusion can be false even if the premises are true
deductive - no, the conclusion is an inevitable result of the logic of the premises as it is based on logical processes

Question 5

What is an A priori argument/statement?

Answer 5

they rely only on the processes of logic to prove a point; it is true or false without the need for observation

Question 6

What is an A posteriori argument/statement?

Answer 6

depends on some kind of evidence to support them; it is true or false with the need for observation/experiences

Question 7

What are some examples of a posteriori arguments for the existence of God?

Answer 7

• design arguments
• moral arguments
• cosmological arguments
• arguments from religious experience

Question 8

What is epistemic distance?

Answer 8

a distance in knowledge or awareness
- God must remain partially hidden from the world in order to maintain epistemic distance
- With it, it is argued, it’s possible for humans to have a genuinely free will to exercise faith and moral judgements