Help with argument type
- Sdbevins
- New Trial Member
- Posts: 1
- Joined: May 26th, 2017, 1:04 pm
Help with argument type
"I have 10 acres of land in my home state of New Hampshire. I have 10 maple trees on my land. I also have 15 birch trees on my land. I conclude that the state of New Hampshire must have more birch trees than maple trees."
Both premises are true (I have 10 maple and 15 birch trees on my land), so does this automatically make this a deductive argument?
Thanks!
Scott
- Webplodder
- Posts: 36
- Joined: April 27th, 2017, 2:25 pm
Re: Help with argument type
This would be a case of a weak inductive argument as it is making a conclusion based on limited information.Sdbevins wrote:I'm new to deductive and inductive arguments, and I'm struggling with the argument below. I appreciate any help in understanding wether this is inductive or deductive.
"I have 10 acres of land in my home state of New Hampshire. I have 10 maple trees on my land. I also have 15 birch trees on my land. I conclude that the state of New Hampshire must have more birch trees than maple trees."
Both premises are true (I have 10 maple and 15 birch trees on my land), so does this automatically make this a deductive argument?
Thanks!
Scott
A strong example of a deductive argument would be: Every time you eat peanuts, your throat swells up and you can't breath. So, you are allergic to peanuts.
-- Updated May 27th, 2017, 2:19 am to add the following --
Whether an inductive argument is strong or weak depends on the likelihood of its conclusion based on the premises given.Webplodder wrote:This would be a case of a weak inductive argument as it is making a conclusion based on limited information.Sdbevins wrote:I'm new to deductive and inductive arguments, and I'm struggling with the argument below. I appreciate any help in understanding wether this is inductive or deductive.
"I have 10 acres of land in my home state of New Hampshire. I have 10 maple trees on my land. I also have 15 birch trees on my land. I conclude that the state of New Hampshire must have more birch trees than maple trees."
Both premises are true (I have 10 maple and 15 birch trees on my land), so does this automatically make this a deductive argument?
Thanks!
Scott
A strong example of a inductive argument would be: Every time you eat peanuts, your throat swells up and you can't breath. So, you are allergic to peanuts.
- Logikal
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Re: Help with argument type
Deductive arguments have a strict form are stricter rules to make something deductive. The main difference between deductive and inductiveinductive reasoning reaoning is that DEDUCTIVE leads to CERTAINTY (If you follow the strict rules) and inductive leads to POSSIBILE. Notice I said POSSIBLE: it may turn out that this conclusion can be false with indquestions uctive reasoning. Deductive reasoning is imposible to get wrong provided you FOLLOW RULES.
I can give examples or counter examples if neccessary. Any questions just ask.
- Burning ghost
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Re: Help with argument type
X+1=2
We can only deduce that X=1.
Whereas, if I walk into a room and you are stood over a dead man with a bullet hole in his head and a smoking gun in your hand, I can use deductive reasoning to say you shot him. The reality of the situation may be, although unlikely, that you didn't shoot the man and that he shot himself and you picked up the still smoking gun for some strange reason. I think I am right in saying these terms have been held up to much scrutiny over millennia by many philosophers.
Basically what someone said above hits the nail better on the head than my example of the uses of different forms of logic. Deductive reasoning is used with set rules and must end with a certain conclusion, whereas inductive reasoning is about probable reasons (this is used in law with the "beyond reasonable doubt" idea, which is a very contentious subject given that we have no consensus on what "reasonable doubt" is!)
It is in these areas we find many religious attitudes combatting against scientific "principles" as being "beliefs".
note: It may help you to read up about abductive reasoning too, to frame a better understanding of what deductive and inductive reasoning mean in relation to each other.
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Re: Help with argument type
2023/2024 Philosophy Books of the Month
Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
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