Week 3- Chapts 6 - 7: Evaluating Deductive and Inductive Arguments

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts, standards, and definitions for evaluating deductive and inductive arguments from Chapters 6 and 7.

Logical Function of an Argument

The role of an argument in actually succeeding to provide an objective reason to believe its conclusion, regardless of whether any particular audience accepts it.

Rhetorical Function of an Argument

The use of an argument to persuade or convince an audience to accept a belief, evaluated solely by its persuasive power.

Maximal Relevance

A standard of relevance in deductive arguments where the truth of the premises completely guarantees the truth (positive) or falsity (negative) of the conclusion.

Partial Ordering Diagram

A diagram with more than one path or branch, used to model rankings or distances when the premises leave the relative order of certain objects uncertain.

Categorical Syllogism

A deductive categorical argument that consists of exactly two dependent premises and a conclusion dealing with class inclusion or exclusion.

Euler Circles

A diagramming technique that uses spatial relationships between circles (such as containment or separation) to represent categorical premises.

Valid Argument

An argument where the truth of the premises would guarantee the truth of the conclusion.

Invalid Argument

A deductive argument where it is possible for the premises to be true and the conclusion to be false at the same time.

Sound Argument

An argument which is both valid and has all true premises.

Unsound Argument

A deductive argument which is either invalid or has any false premises.

Rational Dilemma

A situation where reason apparently pulls you in two inconsistent directions.

Begging the Question

A flaw in reasoning where an argument assumes or takes for granted the very conclusion it is attempting to establish.

Inductive Strength

A measure of the degree of partial relevance between the premises and conclusion in an inductive argument, determining how likely the conclusion is given true premises.

Strong Argument

An inductive argument whose premises, if true, would make its conclusion more likely true than not.

Weak Argument

An inductive argument where given the truth of the premises the conclusion is $50\%$ or less likely to be true.

Cogent Argument

An inductive argument which is both strong and has all true premises.

Uncogent Argument

An inductive argument that is either weak or contains at least one false premise.

Compelling Argument

An inductively cogent argument whose strength is very high.

Evidence

Straightforward factual-type statements that function as premises in an inductive argument to support a conclusion with varying degrees of probability.