1.4 basic arguments, inductive arguments, validity/soundness

1.4 basic arguments, inductive arguments, validity/soundness

Deductive arguments, if successful……

prove their conclusion

inductive arguments, if successful…..

support their conclusion……..

Main kinds of inductive arguments…..

Arguments from sample, Convergent arguments (balance of considerations), and Inference to the best explanation

Enumerative induction

a type of inductive reasoning where a generalization is made based on the observed frequency of an attribute in a sample

Convergent arguments/Balance of Considerations

often used when we have to make decisions about some course of action. We tally up the major reasons for or against some choice, and then we weigh these against each other

inference to the best explanation

the premises are some of the data we need to explain, and the conclusion is the explanation that we think best does so

ex. You come home and see your door open and things missing, so you are probably a victim of robbery

3 things are important in selecting a good explanation

1. explanatory of power

2. coherence with other things known

3. simplicity

validity

a characteristic of an argument’s form, such that if the premises are true, it forces a true conclusion. If not, it is invalid

soundness

When an argument is both valid and has true premises, also guarantees a true conclusion. If not, it is unsound