Page 3.3
Deduction
Which of the following is the BEST definition of a deductive argument?
an argument with a necessarily true conclusion, provided the premises are true
Consider the following syllogism:
Premise:
All men are skillful drivers.
Premise:
Gus is a man.
Conclusion:
Therefore, Gus is a skillful driver.
How does it hold up in terms of truth, validity, and soundness?
The argument is valid, but not all of the premises are true, so the argument is unsound.
Why is it hard to settle a debate on a controversial issue with a simple deductive argument?
It's challenging to settle a debate on a controversial subject with a deductive argument because
it’s hard to find inarguably true premises to support a certain conclusion.
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- Spring '13
- Sheffield
- Logic, Pedro
