statement
Definition
An assertion that something is or is not the case. (page 41)
argument
Definition
A group of statements, one of which is supposed to be supported by the rest. (page 42)
conclusion
Definition
The statement supported in an argument. (page 42)
premise
Definition
A supporting statement in an argument. (page 42)
deductive argument
Definition
An argument that is supposed to give logically conclusive support to its conclusion. (page 43)
indicator words
Definition
Terms that often appear in arguments to signal the presence of a premise or conclusion, or to indicate
that an argument is deductive or inductive. (page 43)
inductive argument
Definition
An argument that is supposed to offer probable support to its conclusion. (page 43)
invalid argument
Definition
A deductive argument that does not offer logically conclusive support for the conclusion. (page 44)
valid argument
Definition
A deductive argument that does in fact provide logically conclusive support for its conclusion. (page 44)
cogent argument
Definition
A strong argument with true premises. (page 45)
sound argument
Definition
A valid argument with true premises. (page 45)
strong argument
Definition
An inductive argument that does in fact provide probable support for its conclusion. (page 45)
weak argument
Definition
An inductive argument that does not give probable support to the conclusion. (page 45)
moral statement
Definition
A statement affirming that an action is right or wrong or that a person (or one's motive or character) is
good or bad. (page 51)
nonmoral statement
Definition
A statement that does not affirm that an action is right or wrong or that a person (or one's motive or
character) is good or bad. (page 51)
begging the question
Definition
The fallacy of arguing in a circle that is, trying to use a statement as both a premise in an argument and
the conclusion of that argument. Such an argument says,
equivocation
Definition
The fallacy of assigning two different meanings to the same term in an argument. (page 56)
appeal to authority
Definition
The fallacy of relying on the opinion of someone thought to be an expert who is not. (page 57)
slippery slope
Definition
The fallacy of using dubious premises to argue that doing a particular action will inevitably lead to other
actions that will result in disaster, so you should not do that first action. (page 57)
faulty analogy
Definition
The use of a flawed analogy to argue for a conclusion. (page 58)
appeal to ignorance
Definition
The fallacy of arguing that the absence of evidence entitles us to believe a claim. (page 59)
appeal to the person
Definition
The fallacy (also known as ad hominem) of arguing that a claim should be rejected solely because of the
characteristics of the person who makes it. (page 59)
hasty generalization
Definition
The fallacy of drawing a conclusion about an entire group of people or things based on an undersized
sample of the group. (page 59)
straw man
Definition
The fallacy of misrepresenting someone's claim or argument so it can be more easily refuted. (page 59)