Logic

Logic

The study of what it means to make good arguments or to reason well, used to evaluate, build, and strengthen reasoning while avoiding fallacies.

Statement

A claim, premise, or conclusion that has the capacity to be either true or false (unlike a question or a command).

Argument

A combination of statements consisting of reasons (premises) that support a specific claim (conclusion). Formula → {Premises} + {Conclusion} = {Argument}.

Premise

A supporting reason or statement offered in an argument to justify a conclusion.

Conclusion

The central claim of an argument that is being supported by the premises.

Deductive Reasoning

A method of arguing from universal premises to a particular conclusion, where the conclusion must be true if the premises are true.

Validity

A structural property of a deductive argument meaning the conclusion logically and necessarily follows from the premises. Validity applies to the argument as a whole, not individual statements.

Truth

The factual accuracy of an individual statement or premise. Statements are true or false; arguments are valid or invalid.

Truth-Preserving

A characteristic of a valid deductive argument ensuring that if all the premises are factually true, the conclusion is guaranteed to be true.

Inductive Reasoning

A method of arguing from particular cases, examples, or experiences to generalized conclusions, where the conclusion is likely or probable rather than guaranteed.

Strength/Weakness

The standard used to evaluate inductive arguments based on the quality and weight of the evidence, rather than validity.

Hasty Generalization (Over-generalization)

A fallacy and major risk of inductive reasoning where one moves beyond known facts to make a broad prediction based on a sample size that is too small or irrelevant (e.g., stereotyping).

Correlation

A relationship where two variables (X and ) consistently appear or change together, though one does not necessarily cause the other.

Causation

A direct relationship where one variable explicitly produces or brings about a change in another variable.

Third-Variable Problem ("Z" Factor)

A scenario where two correlating variables (X and Y) do not cause each other, but are instead both caused by a hidden third factor (Z).