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Argument Based On Mathematics and Argument From Definition (AutoRecovered)

The document discusses two common patterns of deductive arguments: 1) Arguments based on mathematics, which derive conclusions from mathematical calculations or measurements. These are usually deductive, but can sometimes be inductive if the premises allow for the possibility of the conclusion being false. 2) Arguments from definition, which claim conclusions are true by definition based on the meaning of terms. These are always deductive, as statements following by definition are necessarily true if the definitions are true.

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2K views

Argument Based On Mathematics and Argument From Definition (AutoRecovered)

The document discusses two common patterns of deductive arguments: 1) Arguments based on mathematics, which derive conclusions from mathematical calculations or measurements. These are usually deductive, but can sometimes be inductive if the premises allow for the possibility of the conclusion being false. 2) Arguments from definition, which claim conclusions are true by definition based on the meaning of terms. These are always deductive, as statements following by definition are necessarily true if the definitions are true.

Uploaded by

Thu Bích
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1.

Argument based on mathematics :


We have a definition
 Mathematics is a model of logical, step-by-step reasoning. The arguments prove that
conclusion is on the basis of precise mathematical concepts and reasoning
In an argument based on mathematics, the conclusion is claimed to depend largely
or entirely on some mathematical calculation or measurement
 For example :
 Eight is greater than four.
Four is greater than two.
Therefore, eight is greater than two.

 Mark has twice as many cats as Susan


Susan has 3 cats
Therefore, Mark has 6 cats

In these examples, they based on some basic mathematical calculations like


numeration or addition and they are totally true

 Arguments based on mathematics are usually best treated as deductive. However,


arguments based on mathematics can be inductive

Here is example :
My blind uncle told me that there were 8 men, 6 women, and 12 kids at the party.
By simple addition, therefore, it follows that there were 26 people at the party.
Here, the conclusion clearly does not follow from the premise because it is possible
for the premise to be true and the conclusion false. (Maybe my blind uncle
miscounted, for example.) For that reason, the argument is best treated as inductive

2. Argument from definition :


 In an argument from definition , the conclusion is presented as being “true by
definition,” that is, as following simply by definition from some key word or phrase
used in the argument

 For example:
 John is a bachelor. Therefore, John is unmarried

 Marry is a grandmother. Therefore, she is a woman


We can see that these statements are based on definition from some keywords like bachelor
or grandmother so the conclusion like “john is unmarried or she is a woman” are totally true
by definition

( phần ni t tự nói nha : Because a statement that follows by definition is necessarily true if
the relevant definition is true )

 Arguments from definition are always deductive

(Dấu chấm ở dưới là kiểu tổng hợp cho phần common patterns of đeuctive á nha )
That all for the common patterns of deductive reasoning, and we will summary
them :

 Our discussion of common patterns of deductive reasoning can be summarized as


follows:
 Arguments by elimination and arguments from definition should always be
treated as deductive.
 Logically reliable hypothetical syllogisms, categorical syllogisms, and
arguments based on mathematics should always be treated as deductive.
 Logically unreliable hypothetical syllogisms, categorical syllogisms, and
arguments based on mathematics should be treated as deductive unless
there is clear evidence that they are intended to be inductive.

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