Exam 10: Deduction and Induction: A Closer Look

On deductive arguments. -If an argument is sound, then its conclusion is likely but not certainly true.

Is the argument deductive (D) or inductive (I)? -All coffee contains oils. Therefore, this coffee certainly contains oils.

Strong or Weak? -This season the Roosevelt Roughriders have won seventeen games and lost just one. The Nathan Hale team has won only two out of sixteen games. Tonight, when Roosevelt plays Hale, Roosevelt will probably win.

Categorical arguments are a common type of deductive argument.

One way to strengthen an enumerative induction is to list more cases.

In an inference to the best explanation, all else equal, the simpler hypothesis is preferable.

On deductive arguments. -If a deductive argument is invalid, then it must also be unsound.

Is all reasoning equal? Or is some reasoning better than other reasoning? Give examples and support your answer.

Think with Socrates does not contain a section on enthymemes. However, the concept can be defined briefly. This exercise defines an enthymeme and gives students a chance to practice filling in holes in incomplete deductive arguments. An enthymeme is an argument that is missing one or more premises or a conclusion. Each of the following deductive arguments is missing either a premise or a conclusion. (Thus, each is an enthymeme.) Add a statement to each so as to turn the enthymeme into a valid argument. -All bats are mammals … Therefore, all bats are warm-blooded.

One way to critique an analogical argument is to show disanalogies between the things compared in the premises.

On deductive arguments. -If an argument has premises that are certainly false, then the argument must be invalid.

If an argument has premises that are probably true, then the argument is a strong inductive argument.

Think with Socrates does not contain a section on enthymemes. However, the concept can be defined briefly. This exercise defines an enthymeme and gives students a chance to practice filling in holes in incomplete deductive arguments. An enthymeme is an argument that is missing one or more premises or a conclusion. Each of the following deductive arguments is missing either a premise or a conclusion. (Thus, each is an enthymeme.) Add a statement to each so as to turn the enthymeme into a valid argument. -All Scots wear kilts. No kilt-wearers are card players. So …

The following is a valid argument: Senator Clarke associates with known horologists. Therefore, the argument he just gave must be an invalid argument.

The following is a valid argument: No splogs are crogs. All crogs are blonks. So no splogs are blonks.

On deductive arguments. -If an argument has premises that are certainly false and a conclusion that is certainly false, then the argument must be invalid.

If an argument is strong, and its premises are true, then it is cogent.

The following is a valid deductive argument: All rock fish are orange and red. This fish is orange and red. So this fish must be a rock fish.

According to the text, Aristotle may have gotten the seminal idea for the subject of logic while at Plato's Academy where he studied the many arguments for and against the various philosophies under consideration.

Is the argument deductive (D) or inductive (I)? -This car gets 20 mpg. It has ten gallons in its tank. Therefore, it will surely go two hundred miles before needing gas.