PHIL 2003 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Inductive Reasoning, Logical Form, Deductive Reasoning

• School: Carleton University
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: PHIL 2003
• Professor: Ken Ferguson

Document Summary

The concept of the validity and the distinction deductive and inductive arguments: the concept of validity. In ordinary speech the term valid is used in rather broad sense. We might say: (cid:862) o a(cid:374)d so (cid:373)ade a (cid:448)alid (cid:272)lai(cid:373)(cid:863), or (cid:862)there is (cid:373)u(cid:272)h (cid:448)alidity i(cid:374) (cid:449)hat she said(cid:863), a(cid:374)d so on. Here the ter(cid:373) (cid:858)(cid:448)alid(cid:859) si(cid:373)ply (cid:373)ea(cid:374)s so(cid:373)ethi(cid:374)g like true or plausi(cid:271)le. I(cid:374) logi(cid:272), ho(cid:449)e(cid:448)er, the ter(cid:373) (cid:858)(cid:448)alid(cid:859) is used (cid:449)ith a (cid:448)ery differe(cid:374)t (cid:373)ea(cid:374)i(cid:374)g: definition of validity. In logic to say that an argument is valid means. If the premises are all true, then the conclusion must be true: or. If this piece of wire is made of copper then it will conduct electricity. this piece of wire is not made of copper: not valid, therefore, this piece of wire will not conduct electricity. It is not valid, as this example shoes.