philosophy

Inductive argument

The inferential aim is to establish a conclusion that follows with a high degree of probability. Even if the premises are true, it only makes it so that the conclusion is most likely to be true.

Deductive argument

The inferential aim is to establish a conclusion that follows necessarily from the premises. In other words, for the premises to be true, the conclusion must be true also.

Valid Deductive Argument

For a deductive argument to be valid, the structure of the argument must guarantee that if the premises are true the conclusion must also be true.

Sound Deductive Argument

For an argument to be sound, it must be valid, and the argument itself must have both true premises, making the conclusion true as well.

Invalid Deductive Argument

Following the inferential aim, if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true as well, but the premises do not actually make it that the conclusion is true.

Weak Inductive argument

The inferential aim of the argument is to make the conclusion likely, but even if both premises are true, it doesn’t make it probable that the conclusion is true.

Enthymeme

Arguments with missing premises, missing conclusions or both

Principle of Charity

We should reconstruct arguments in the best way possible.

Unsound Deductive Argument

The argument is either invalid or at least one of its premises are false.