Philosophy "a Little Logic" Notes Notecards

Front 1

inductive reasoning

Back 1

proceed from a carefully chosen number of cases; makes a generalization; use the reasoning process; make hypothesis; arguments by induction rely upon coherence

Front 2

deductive reasoning

Back 2

SYLLOGISMS; begins with a true statement (axiom)= major premise; added to the major premise is the minor premise. from these two comes the conclusion; "ergo" or "therefore"

Front 3

All Onions are Vegetables
This Object is An Onion
Ergo, this object is a vegetable.

Back 3

VALID syllogism

Front 4

All cars have wheels
This vehicle has wheels
Ergo, this vehicle is a car.

Back 4

INVALID. does not have proper syllogistic form

Front 5

Deductive logic...

Back 5

...guarantees the truth of the argument IF the premises are true

Front 6

Inductive logic...

Back 6

...does not guarantee the truth of the argument, but makes it REASONABLE for us to believe the conclusion

Front 7

INCONSISTENT

Back 7

conclusion of its different arguments CONTRADICT one another

Front 8

REDUCTIO AD ABSURDAM

Back 8

countering an argument by showing that if it is followed completely it will result in a PARADOX.

Front 9

Arguments from AUTHORITY

Back 9

may be more/less convincing to people, but often are not sufficeint in philosophy, because in philo, it is the nature of auth. which is in question

Front 10

BEGGING THE QUESTION

Back 10

repeating as a solution the very problem "my solution to poverty is to make sure that everyone has money"

Front 11

tautology

Back 11

statement [though true] is so obvious that it doesn't help clarify anything: "The only way we can have liberty is if we are free"

Front 12

NON SEQUITIR

Back 12

does not follow, "If you continue to drive to scool every day, you'll wind up in an accident"

Front 13

POST HOC ERGO PROPTER HOC

Back 13

"AFTER THAT, THEREFORE BECAUSE OF THAT"; "FOUR OF MY BROTHERS WENT TO COLLEGE, AND EACH OF THEM WOUND UP GETTING DIVORCED. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A LONG&HAPPY MARRIAGE, DON'T MARRY A COLLEGE GRAD!"

Front 14

CRITICISM

Back 14

need not be seen negatively

Front 15

AD HOMINEM

Back 15

attack on the person; "poisons the well" of civilized discussion. F.e. "You're a communist!"