PHL 214 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Co-Premise, Logical Reasoning, Modus Ponens
Document Summary
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.