Chapter Outline

1. recognize deduction and induction indicator words;

2. understand that all deductive arguments claim that their conclusions follow with strict necessity from their premises;

3. understand that arguments often follow common patterns that can help one to distinguish whether an argument is either deductive or inductive;

4. understand when it is appropriate to apply the principle of charity in those cases where it is difficult to discern whether an argument is intended to be deductive or inductive;

5. become familiar with and be proficient in the application of the guidelines for distinguishing deductive from inductive arguments on pgs. 61-62.

1. common patterns of hypothetical syllogisms.

2. categorical syllogisms.

3. arguments by elimination.

4. arguments based on mathematics.

5. arguments from definition.

1. inductive generalizations.

2. predictive arguments.

3. arguments from authority.

4. causal arguments

5. statistical arguments.

6. arguments from analogy.

1. understand that a deductively valid argument is one in which it is impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion false;

2. distinguish between the everyday sense of "valid" as "good" or "true" from its precise technical sense which is used in the context of critical thinking;

3. understand that the validity of an argument does not depend on whether the premises and conclusion are actually true;

4. understand that no valid argument can have true premises and a false conclusion;

5. understand that all deductive arguments are either completely valid or completely invalid.

1. comprehend that an argument can be valid and have false premises and a false conclusion; or stated differently, "valid" does not mean "true;"

2. understand that an argument can have true premises and a true conclusion and yet still be invalid; or stated differently, "true" does not mean "valid;"

1. understand that if it is logically possible for the premises to be true and the conclusion false, then the argument is invalid;

2. note that an invalid argument can have any combination of truth or falsity in the premises and conclusion.

1. understand that sound arguments must be valid and have all true premises.

2. understand that unsound arguments are invalid, have one or more false premises, or both.

1. understand that a strong inductive argument is one in which the conclusion follows probably from the premises;

2. understand that a weak inductive argument is an argument in which the conclusion does not follow probably from the premises;

3. understand that the strength of an argument does not depend on whether the premises and conclusion are actually true;

4. understand that no strong inductive argument can have true premises and a probably false conclusion;

5. note that a weak inductive argument can have any combination of truth or falsity in the premises and conclusion.

1. understand that, unlike deductive validity, inductive strength admits of degrees;

2. understand that an inductive argument can be made stronger or weaker by adding a premise.

1. in a cogent argument, the premises must be true and the argument must be inductively strong;

2. in an uncogent argument, the premises are false, the argument is inductively weak, or both.

1. Check to see whether the premises are actually true and the conclusion is false. If so, then the argument is invalid.

2. Attempt to conceive of a possible scenario in which the premises would be true and the conclusion false.

3. Apply the counterexample method of proving invalidity.