PHI 1101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Thanetian, Deductive Reasoning, Modus Ponens

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: PHI 1101
• Professor: Mark Brown

Document Summary

An argument intended to provide logically conclusive support for its conclusion. The defining characteristic of a deductive argument is that it is valid or invalid. If we describe a deductive argument as valid, we mean that if its premises were true, then they would guarantee the truth of the conclusion. As noted: the only combination of premises and a conclusion that a valid argument cannot have is true premises and a false conclusion. If an argument has true premises and a false conclusion, then it is invalid. Also, we have noted that it is the structure or form of some arguments that make them deductive. When arguments have a specific structure or form, then they are valid, as the premises guarantee the conclusion. Today: we want to look at 8 valid argument forms and 2 invalid argument forms. The ultimate goal is to learn how to construct proofs to show how an argument is valid in its entirety.