PHIL 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Tu Quoque, Ad Hominem, Fallacy
Document Summary
The premises of an inductive argument should make it probable that the conclusion will be true. Inductive arguments then should supply us with some measure of how likely we are to be correct if we draw a conclusion on the basis of the evidence presented. In this chapter we classify inductive arguments according to their form. The form of an argument refers to its structural features, and not its subject matter or content. It is always important to consider also the content the subject matter of the argument; and the context in which the argument is offered. Both these features of inductive arguments can supply important background information, and a source for unstated premises. Syllogisms are arguments with (usually) two premises and a conclusion that "puts together" information presented in the premises. Syllogisms proceed from the general to the particular. The first premise is a generalization, and the conclusion is about an individual.
