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Logic has been a cornerstone of education for over 2,500 years, often integrated into the classical curriculum of grammar, logic, and rhetoric. As disciplines evolved in the 20th century, formal logic became less prominent, giving way to informal logic and critical thinking. Understanding arguments, premises, and conclusions is essential in constructing sound deductive or inductive reasoning. This guide explores definitions and distinctions between inductive and deductive arguments, showcasing their applications through relatable examples to enhance your reasoning skills.
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How to Argue Successfully Deductive and Inductive Reasoning
Introduction • “Logic has been a formal academic discipline for almost 2,500 years. For much of western history, logic was one of the main branches of schooling (the classical curriculum consisted of grammar, logic and rhetoric - Language used to persuade or influence others). With the growth of more specialized disciplines and wider curricula in the 20th century, formal logic got lost in the shuffle. In its place, philosophers began formulating courses in what we now call critical thinking, or informal logic.” (FactCheckEd.org, 2008)
Definitions • Argument: a conclusion together with the premises that support it • Premise: a reason offered as support for another claim • Conclusion: the claim being supported by a premise or premises
Definitions Continued • Valid: an argument whose premises genuinely support its conclusion • Unsound: an argument that has at least one false premise • Deductive: an argument whose premises make its conclusion certain • Inductive: an argument whose premises make its conclusion likely
Inductive Reasoning • When detectives arrive at the scene of a crime, the first thing they do is look for clues that can help them piece together what happened. A broken window, for example might suggest how a burglar entered or exited a house that had been robbed. • This process is called inductive reasoning. It consists of making observations and then drawing conclusions based on those observations. • Using inductive reasoning generally involves the following questions: • 1. What have you observed? • 2. What evidence is available? • 3. What can you conclude from that evidence? • 4. Is that conclusion logical? • Example: You might notice that every time you eat a hot dog with chili and onions, you get a stomachache. Using inductive reasoning, it is likely that chili dogs cause you to have indigestion and you should probably stop eating them.
Inductive Reasoning Example • Example: You might notice that every time you eat a hot dog with chili and onions, you get a stomachache. Using inductive reasoning, it is likely that chili dogs cause you to have indigestion and you should probably stop eating them.
Deductive Reasoning • The difference between an inductive and deductive argument is that in an inductive argument the conclusion is likely. In a deductive argument the conclusion is certain. The premises (clues) in a deductive argument guarantee the truth of the conclusion. • Example: • Smith owns only blue and brown pants. • Smith is wearing a pair of his pants today. (Premise) • So Smith is wearing either blue or brown pants today. (Conclusion)
Example * Invalid Deductive Reasoning • Valid Deductive Reasoning • All German Shepherds are dogs. - ArgumentSome pets are German Shepherds. - PremiseTherefore, some pets are dogs. - Conclusion
Practice Is the following an example of inductive or deductive reasoning? • The soccer game is on either Thursday or Friday. I just found out that the game is not on Thursday, so the game must be on Friday. • January has always been cold in Siberia. Today is January 14th, so it is going to be another cold day in Siberia.
