PhilosophyLesson 2 of 2 in the course Logic and Reasoning

Identifying and Evaluating Arguments: Premises, Inferences, and Evidence

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

An argument is a set of reasons offered in support of a conclusion. Learning to distinguish its parts helps you understand what someone is trying to establish and what evidence they offer.

An argument has two main components: a conclusion and one or more premises. The conclusion is the claim the arguer wants the audience to accept. Premises are the reasons or evidence offered in support of that claim.

All flashcards

Argument
A set of reasons offered in support of a conclusion, even if the reasons provide inadequate support.
Inference
The reasoning process that moves from one or more ideas to another; in an argument, from premises to a conclusion.
Logical analysis
Assessment of whether premises support a conclusion.
Truth analysis
Assessment of whether statements are accurate or correct.
Deductive inference
Reasoning in which the conclusion follows necessarily if the premises are true.

Quiz questions

  1. What makes a set of claims an argument, even when its reasoning is weak?Answer: It offers reasons in support of a conclusion.
  2. In an argument, what does an inference do?Answer: Moves from premises to a conclusion through reasoning.
  3. What does logical analysis assess?Answer: Whether the premises support the conclusion.
  4. When is a deductive inference good?Answer: When true premises guarantee that the conclusion is true.
  5. To assess an inference neutrally, what should you do first?Answer: Provisionally assume the premises are true and test whether the conclusion follows.

Based on Introduction to Philosophy by Nathan Smith (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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