Types of Non-Deductive Arguments

These flashcards cover the key concepts related to different types of non-deductive arguments as discussed in the lecture notes.

Statistical Syllogism

A non-deductive argument where reasoning moves from a proportion of a population having certain features to a conclusion about an individual in that population.

Inductive Generalization

A type of non-deductive argument where reasoning goes from a sample of a population to a conclusion about all or some members of that population.

Causal Arguments

Non-deductive arguments that link two events where one event is asserted to be a cause of the other.

Cause as Sufficient Condition

A condition that guarantees the occurrence of an event when a specific factor is present.

Cause as Necessary Condition

A condition that must be present for an event to occur, but alone does not guarantee the event's occurrence.

Argument by Analogy

An argument that compares two different things based on their shared qualities to support a conclusion.

Case Building Arguments

A type of non-deductive argument that constructs a robust case for a conclusion by providing interconnected reasons.

Induction by Observation

A non-deductive argument that begins with a hypothesis and uses observations to support or refute it.

Vagueness

A quality of language where a word or phrase has an imprecise meaning.

Ambiguity

A quality where a sentence or phrase has multiple possible meanings.

Fallacies of Relevance

Errors in reasoning that occur when the premises are not logically connected to the conclusion.

Fallacies of Insufficient Evidence

Errors that occur when the argument lacks adequate support or justification.

Common-Knowledge Test

A method for distinguishing explanations from arguments based on the familiarity of the event.

Past-Event Test

A method for determining if a statement is likely an explanation based on whether the event occurred in the past.

Principle of Charity

The guideline to interpret others' arguments in the strongest form possible.