PHIL 1210-- Exam 1

statement

sentences that are either true or false and say something about the world

argument

a set of statements that includes an inference (premises + conclusion) relationship.

premise

a statement that gives support or evidence for another statement (conclusion).

conclusion

the statement in an argument that the premises support

inductive argument

an argument in which the premises probabilistically support the conclusion

deductive argument

an argument in which the premises absolutely support the conclusion.

when is an argument valid?

if it is deductive AND the truth of the premises guarantees the truth of its conclusion

when is an argument sound?

if it is valid AND all the premises are true.

simple statement

a capital letter with no operators

main operator

the connective with the ‘widest’ or ‘greatest’ scope in that sentence.

tautology/logical truth

a single statement that is true on every row

contradiction

a single statement that is false on every row

contingent

a simple statement that is true on some rows and false on others

when is a pair of statements logically equivalent?

when they have the same truth values on every row

when is a pair of statements contradictory?

when they have opposite truth values on every row