Deductive Argument

• Applying logical rules to your premises until only the truthful conclusion remains
• Intends to provide conclusive support for its conclusion
  • When providing conclusive support for its conclusion, it is valid
  • When not providing conclusive support for its conclusion, it is invalid
  • Validity is all or nothing
• If premises provided are true, the conclusion must be true (certain)
  • Are premises true?
  • Do the premises lead to this conclusion?
• True premises aren't enough (must be valid)
  • Gasoline is poison (true)
  • Bleach is poison (true)
  • Conclusion: gasoline is bleach (false)
• Deductively valid arguments with true premises are sound
  • Valid arguments are not necessarily true (sound)!

Example

• Unjustly killing innocent people is wrong
• THe holocaust was a case of unjustly killing innocent people
• Conclusion: Holocaust was wrong

Philosophy Argument