3 Analyzing Arguments Free Online FlashCards

What is an argument?

An argument is a set of statements in which one or more statements are offered as reasons for accepting another.

How do premises differ from a conclusion?

Premises are the reasons offered; the conclusion is the central claim those reasons are meant to support.

What are the two stages of evaluating an argument’s support?

First check whether the premises are credible, accurate, relevant, and sufficiently supported; then assess how strongly they support the conclusion.

When is a deductive argument valid?

A deductive argument is valid if it is impossible for all its premises to be true while its conclusion is false.

What distinguishes inductive reasoning?

Inductive reasoning uses evidence to support a conclusion that goes beyond what the evidence strictly guarantees; the conclusion may be probable without being certain.

How can you distinguish deduction from induction?

Judge whether the premises aim to guarantee the conclusion or make it probable: a guarantee suggests deduction, while probability or likelihood suggests induction.

What role can evidence play in an argument?

Evidence, such as observations, data, examples, or testimony, may support a premise or directly support a conclusion.

What is an assumption in an argument?

An assumption is an unstated idea on which the reasoning depends. Making it explicit helps reveal whether the reasoning is reasonable.

How should signal words be used when mapping an argument?

Words such as “because” and “since” often introduce premises, while “therefore” and “so” often introduce conclusions. These are clues, not guarantees.

What is an intermediate conclusion?

An intermediate conclusion is supported by earlier premises and then serves as a reason for a later conclusion.

Do true premises alone make an argument good?

No. A true premise must also support the conclusion for the argument to be good; a true conclusion alone does not show strong reasoning.

What makes a valid argument sound?

A sound argument is valid and has true premises.