Deductive vs. Inductive Arguments

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Questions and Answers

What is the defining characteristic of a deductive argument that sets it apart from an inductive argument?

  • It relies on generalizations about the world.
  • It provides logically conclusive support for its conclusion. (correct)
  • It uses examples to support its conclusion.
  • It aims to establish the truth of its conclusion with a degree of certainty.

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a sound deductive argument?

  • It guarantees the truth of its conclusion.
  • It has true premises.
  • It has a logically valid structure.
  • It must be based on empirical evidence. (correct)

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of a valid but unsound deductive argument?

  • Most students enjoy playing video games. John is a student. Therefore, John enjoys playing video games.
  • All cars have four wheels. My car has four wheels. Therefore, all cars are like mine.
  • If it rains, the ground will be wet. It is raining. Therefore, the ground is wet.
  • All birds can fly. Penguins are birds. Therefore, penguins can fly. (correct)

What is the term used to describe the degree of certainty in an inductive argument?

<p>Strength (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a cogent inductive argument?

<p>The sun has risen every morning for the past 100 years. Therefore, the sun will rise tomorrow morning. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between deductive and inductive arguments in terms of their relationship to truth?

<p>Deductive arguments preserve truth if their premises are true, while inductive arguments only raise the likelihood of the conclusion being true. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Choose the statement that best defines the strength of an inductive argument.

<p>The likelihood of the conclusion being true, given the truth of the premises. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a key difference between a valid deductive argument and a strong inductive argument?

<p>A valid deductive argument guarantees the truth of its conclusion, while a strong inductive argument only makes the conclusion likely. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a potential pitfall of enumerative induction?

<p>The sample size is insufficient or unrepresentative. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the critical flaw in the following argument: 'All cats are mammals. My pet is a mammal. Therefore, my pet is a cat.'?

<p>The argument commits the fallacy of denying the antecedent. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following arguments is an example of an analogical induction?

<p>My previous Android phone had good battery life, so my new Android phone will likely also have good battery life. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In a deductive argument, the conclusion is said to be 'valid' if...

<p>The premises are logically connected to the conclusion. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a common type of inductive argument?

<p>Deductive Reasoning (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of checking the soundness of a deductive argument?

<p>To determine if the premises themselves are true. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is the strength of an analogical induction determined?

<p>The number of similarities between the familiar and unfamiliar cases. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes inference to the best explanation?

<p>Proposing the most likely explanation for a phenomenon based on available evidence. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following correctly describes the goal of an inductive argument?

<p>To show the conclusion is likely or probable. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a deductive argument?

<p>All cats are mammals. My pet is a cat. Therefore, my pet is a mammal. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between 'validity' and 'soundness' in deductive arguments?

<p>Validity concerns the logical form of the argument, while soundness also considers the truthfulness of the premises. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an INVALID deductive argument pattern?

<p>Affirming the Consequent (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the strength of an inductive argument?

<p>The probability that the conclusion is true given that the premises are true. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'critical note' regarding the inductive argument example given in the content?

<p>The word &quot;most&quot; introduces a probabilistic claim. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Consider the following argument: If the weather is sunny, then I will go to the park. The weather is sunny. Therefore, I will go to the park. Which type of deductive argument pattern is this?

<p>Modus Ponens (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement BEST summarizes the critical thinking insight regarding deductive and inductive arguments?

<p>Deductive arguments rely on logical structure, while inductive arguments assess the plausibility of conclusions. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not a common fallacy identified in the text?

<p>Bandwagon Effect (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the text, what is the primary issue with a "hasty generalization"?

<p>It draws a conclusion based on a limited sample size. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the distinction between a valid deductive argument and an inductive argument?

<p>Inductive arguments are used in science and technology to create new knowledge, while deductive arguments are used to confirm existing knowledge. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a valid deductive argument, as described in the text?

<p>All birds can fly; a robin is a bird; therefore, a robin can fly. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does the text state that "a perfectly valid argument can have a false conclusion if one or more premises are false?"

<p>Because a valid argument only ensures that the conclusion follows logically from the premises, regardless of the truth of those premises. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a strong inductive argument, as implied by the text?

<p>The argument's conclusions are guaranteed to be true, even if the premises are false. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the text, which of the following is the best example of the "Slippery Slope" fallacy?

<p>If we allow students to use calculators in math class, they will eventually stop knowing how to do simple arithmetic. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements would the author of the text most likely agree with?

<p>Both inductive and deductive reasoning have their unique strengths and limitations. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Inductive Argument

An argument that shows the conclusion is likely based on the premises.

Deductive Argument

An argument that aims to guarantee the conclusion’s truth if premises are true.

Validity

A property of deductive arguments where if premises are true, conclusion must also be true.

Soundness

A quality of deductive arguments that are both valid and have true premises.

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Strength (Inductive)

A measure of how probable the conclusion is based on premises.

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Cogency

The quality of an inductive argument being strong with true premises.

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Modus Ponens

A valid deductive argument form: If P, then Q; P; therefore Q.

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Affirming the Consequent

A fallacious argument structure: If P, then Q; Q; therefore P.

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Truth-Preserving

Deductive arguments guarantee truth of the conclusion if valid premises are true.

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Not Truth-Preserving

Inductive arguments do not ensure conclusion truth, only raise likelihood.

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Evidence Quality Check

Analyzing if sample size or testimonials are adequate and if biases exist.

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Consider Alternatives

Evaluating if different conclusions or overlooked data exist when analyzing premises.

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Hasty Generalization

Generalizing based on insufficient examples, like concluding all engineers dislike coffee from two instances.

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False Dilemma

Presenting only two options when more exist, as in 'You're either with us or against us.'

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Slippery Slope

Claiming that a minor action will lead to major consequences without sufficient evidence.

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Inductive Argument Misconception

The belief that inductive arguments are weaker than deductive ones; they're essential for scientific discovery.

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Valid Deductive Argument

A valid argument may have false premises, making its conclusion incorrect despite its form being valid.

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True Premises & Validity

An argument can have all true premises and a true conclusion but still be invalid if the conclusion does not follow logically.

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Denying the Antecedent

A logical fallacy where 'If P, then Q' is reversed incorrectly to conclude 'Not Q'.

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Ennumerative Induction

Generalizing from multiple observations to reach a broader conclusion.

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Analogical Induction

Arguing based on similarities between familiar and unfamiliar cases.

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Inference to the Best Explanation

Finding the most likely explanation for a phenomenon based on evidence.

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Evaluating Deductive Arguments

Check validity and soundness of an argument's premises and conclusion.

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Validity in Logic

An argument is valid if premises ensure the conclusion must be true.

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Soundness in Logic

An argument is sound if it is valid and its premises are true.

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Critical Flaw

A weakness in reasoning that undermines an argument’s reliability.

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Study Notes

Deductive vs. Inductive Arguments

  • Deductive arguments aim to provide logically conclusive support for a conclusion. If premises are true and the argument is valid, the conclusion must be true.
  • A deductive argument is valid when it's impossible for all premises to be true and the conclusion false. Validity only concerns the logical form of the argument, not the truth of the premises.
  • A deductive argument is sound if it is valid and all its premises are true. Soundness ensures both correct structure (validity) and factual accuracy.
  • Deductive arguments are said to "preserve truth" because a valid deductive argument with true premises guarantees a true conclusion.

Inductive Arguments

  • Inductive arguments provide probabilistic support for a conclusion. They aim to show that the conclusion is likely true if the premises are true, but unlike deductive arguments, they do not guarantee the conclusion.
  • Inductive arguments are strong if, assuming the premises are true, the conclusion is probably true. The degree of strength can vary from very likely to somewhat likely.
  • An inductive argument is cogent if it's strong and all its premises are true. Cogency means both a strong structure and true premises.
  • Unlike deductive arguments, an inductive argument does not ensure the conclusion must be true—it only raises the likelihood.

Key Differences

Aspect Deductive Inductive
Goal Guarantee the conclusion's truth Show the conclusion is likely or probable
Structure Validity Strength
Evaluation Validity + Soundness Strength + Cogency
Common Use Mathematics, formal logic, legal statutes Scientific hypotheses, everyday decision-making

Common Deductive Argument Patterns

  • Modus Ponens (Affirming the Antecedent): If P, then Q. P. Therefore, Q.
  • Modus Tollens (Denying the Consequent): If P, then Q. Not Q. Therefore, Not P.

Common Inductive Argument Types

  • Enumerative Induction: Observing many instances and generalizing to a broader conclusion.
  • Analogical Induction: Drawing a conclusion about an unfamiliar case based on its similarity to a familiar case.
  • Inference to the Best Explanation: Proposing the most likely explanation for a phenomenon based on available evidence.

Critical Thinking Applications

  • Evaluating Deductive Arguments: Check validity (is it impossible for premises to be true and conclusion false?) and soundness (are all premises true?).
  • Evaluating Inductive Arguments: Assess probability link (does the conclusion follow with high probability?), check evidence quality (is the sample size sufficient?), and consider alternatives (are there other possible conclusions?).
  • Avoiding Common Fallacies: Be aware of hasty generalizations, false dilemmas, and slippery slopes.

Misconceptions and Clarifications

  • A valid deductive argument can have a false conclusion if the premises are false.
  • Inductive arguments are not automatically "weaker" than deductive arguments. They are used differently, and their strength can be very high.

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Related Documents

Chapter 3 - Deductive v. Inductive Arguments PDF

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