PHL 214 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Co-Premise, Logical Reasoning, Modus Ponens
6 Feb 2016
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Intended to provide logically conclusive support for conclusion. Valid if premises t, conclusion must also be t. Valid argument has logical structure that guarantees the truth of the conclusion if p = t. If p t, no way c can be false: inductive. Intended to provide probable (not conclusive) support for conclusion. Structure of inductive doesn"t guarantee if p t, c t. *obviously, good argument should have proper structure but also true premises. Therefore all cats have fins: f p t c. Lassie is a mammal: t p t c. Deductive gives absolute support, either t or f. Either weak/invalid argument: generally if argument looks deductive/inductive, assume, or look for indicator words intended as such. Try to search for unstated premise when there appears to be something essential missing: look for premise that would make argument valid will link p and c. Choose one that is most plausible and fits best with author"s intent.
