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SAPhilosophy

Reasoning and Argument Analysis

3 dot points across 3 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do we tell a good argument from a bad one?

Analyse arguments for validity and soundness and identify common informal fallacies
Argument analysis is the core skill of philosophy. You learn to identify premises and conclusions, distinguish deductive validity from inductive strength, test soundness, and detect informal fallacies such as ad hominem and begging the question.
6 min answer →

What is the difference between an argument that guarantees its conclusion and one that only makes it probable?

Distinguish deductive validity from inductive strength and evaluate the main forms of inductive inference
Deductive arguments aim for validity, where true premises guarantee the conclusion, while inductive arguments aim for strength, making the conclusion probable. Understanding the difference is the foundation of all argument analysis.
6 min answer →

How can the validity of an argument be tested by its logical form alone?

Use categorical syllogisms and propositional truth tables to test arguments for formal validity
Formal logic tests validity by form alone. Categorical syllogisms analyse arguments about classes, while propositional logic uses truth tables and valid forms such as modus ponens to determine whether a conclusion must follow.
6 min answer →