proofs (introduction)

Question 1

what is a proof

Answer 1

an argument which starts from one or more premises, which are propositions taken for granted for the purpose of the argument, and argues to a conclusion

Question 2

what is a premise

Answer 2

a simple statement. It can be abstract, a definition or a hypothesis

Question 3

what are proofs made of

Answer 3

P+P=C
Premise + Premise = Conclusion

Question 4

what is an ‘A Priori’ Argument

Answer 4

arguments not dependent on experience , but instead deal with concepts

Question 5

what is a ‘deductive’ argument

Answer 5

it has a logically necessary conclusion –> if the premise is correct the conclusion is correct; there is only one option for the conclusion

Question 6

what is an ‘analytic’ argument

Answer 6

an argument that offers no new information

Question 7

give an example of an A PRIORI, DEDUCTIVE, ANALYTIC ARGUMENT

Answer 7

P: Mary is a wife
P: a wife is a married woman
C: Mary is a married woman

Question 8

what are the STRENGTHS of an a priori, deductive argument (3)

Answer 8

1. it has a necessary conclusion, so it is robust
2. it is objective and conceptual, so there is no bias
3. if the premises are true the conclusion is automatically true

Question 9

what are the WEAKNESSES of an a priori, deductive argument (2)

Answer 9

1. if the premise changes, the whole argument collapses
2. just because the argument is logical, does not mean its sound –> it can be robust and weak

Question 10

What is an ‘A Posteriori’ argument

Answer 10

arguments based on experience; evidence from the real world

Question 11

what is an ‘inductive’ argument

Answer 11

arguments that come to a probable conclusion, but can be false –> based on experience

Question 12

what is a ‘synthetic’ argument

Answer 12

the conclusion is not contained within the premises

Question 13

give an example of an A POSTERIORI, INDUCTIVE, SYNTHETIC argument

Answer 13

P: Mary wears a ring
P: married women wear rings
C: Mary is a married woman

Question 14

what are the STRENGTHS of an an posteriori, inductive argument (2)

Answer 14

1. if the premise changes, the conclusion still stands
2. it is based of empirical data and experience

Question 15

what are the WEAKNESSES of an a posteriori, inductive argument (3)

Answer 15

1. it is subjective –> based on experience
2. sense data is unreliable, so experience is therefore unreliable
3. the conclusion is probable, because its based on experience rather than logic