Chapter 8: Glossary

This glossary follows the organization of the textbook and other areas of this Web site and contains short definitions for all the important terms and concepts from the chapter.  You will also  find hyperlinks to Websites relevant to the study of these terms and concepts.  You should employ good critical thinking when evaluating the merit of any information you find on the World Wide Web, including what you find by following these links.

Section 8-1

Argument: A set of claims, one of which, known as the conclusion, is supposed to be supported by the rest, known as reasons or premises. Claim: A statement that is either true or false. Conclusion: In an argument, the claim that is argued for.

• Mission Critical:  A glossary that includes explanations of such topics as arguments, premise, support, conclusions, facts, and opinions.  Includes exercises.

• Stephen Downes' site:  Definition and examples of irrelevant conclusion.

Premise: The claim or claims in an argument that provide the reasons for believing the conclusion

Section 8-2

Dependent Premises: Dependent premises are those that depend on one another as support for their conclusion.  If the assumption that a premise is false cancels the support another provides for a conclusion, the premises are dependent.  Independent Premises: Independent premises are those that do not depend on one another as support for the conclusion.  If the assumption that a premise is false does not cancel the support another premise provides for a conclusion, the premises are independent.

• Mission Critical:  A glossary that includes explanations of such topics as arguments, premise, support, conclusions, facts and opinions.  Also includes exercises at the end of the discussion of concepts.

Section 8-3 (A)

Good Argument:  An argument that provides grounds for accepting its conclusion.

Invalid Argument:  An argument whose conclusion does not necessarily follow from the premises.

Sound Argument:  A valid argument whose premises are true.

Strong Argument:  An argument that has this characteristic:  On the assumption that the premises are true, the conclusion is unlikely to be false.

Valid Argument:  An argument that has this characteristic:  On the assumption that the premises are true, it is impossible for the conclusion to be false.

• Identifying the Argument of the Essay: A Tutorial in Critical Reasoning.
  
• Reasoning and Argument 101:  Site discusses the process of argument analysis.
  
• Arguments and Their Evaluation:  An extensive explanation and discussion of argument and the process of argument evaluation which includes definitions of terms and examples.
  
• Stephen's Guide to Logical Fallacies:  An extensive discussion and explanation of fallacies.
  
• The Atheism Web, Logic & Fallacies:  An exploration of all aspects of argument and logic, including an extensive section on fallacies.

Section 8-3 (B)

Deductive Argument: An argument whose premises are intended to provide conclusive support for the conclusion:

• The Catholic Encyclopedia: An extensive definition of deduction.
  
• Mission Critical:  A discussion of the difference between induction and deduction.  Includes exercises.
  
• Mission Critical: An introduction to deductive arguments.  Includes exercises.
  
• Dictionary of Philosophy of Mind: A definition of deduction.
  
• Encarta Encyclopedia: An encyclopedia entry on deduction with links.
  
• Encyclopedia.com: An encyclopedia definition of deduction with links.