Basic Concepts of Logic

Chapter Overview

Logic, as a field of study, may be defined as the organized body of knowledge, or

science that evaluates arguments. The aim of logic is to develop a system of
methods and principles that we may use as criteria for evaluating the arguments
of others and as guides in constructing arguments of our own. Argument is a
systematic combination of two or more statements, which are classified as a
premise or premises and conclusion. A premise refers to the statement, which is
claimed to provide a logical support or evidence to the main point of the
argument, which is known as conclusion. A conclusion is a statement, which is
claimed to follow from the alleged evidence. Depending on the logical and real
ability of the premise(s) to support the conclusion, an argument can be either a
good argument or a bad argument. However, unlike all kinds of passages,
including those that resemble arguments, all arguments purport to prove
something. Arguments can generally be divided into deductive and inductive
arguments. A deductive argument is an argument in which the premises are
claimed to support the conclusion in such a way that it is impossible for the
premises to be true and the conclusion false. On the other hand, an inductive
argument is an argument in which the premises are claimed to support the
conclusion in such a way that it is improbable that the premises be true and the
conclusion false. The deductiveness or inductiveness of an argument can be
determined by the particular indicator word it might use, the actual strength of the
inferential relationship between its component statements, and its argumentative
form or structure.
A deductive argument can be evaluated by its validity and soundness.
Likewise, an inductive argument can be evaluated by its strength and cogency.
Depending on its actually ability to successfully maintain its inferential claim, a
deductive argument can be either valid or invalid. That is, if the premise(s) of a
certain deductive argument actually support its conclusion in such a way that it is
impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion false, then that
particular deductive argument is valid. If, however, its premise(s) actually support
its conclusion in such a way that it is possible for the premises to be true and the
conclusion false, then that particular deductive argument is invalid.
 Similarly, an inductive argument can be either strong or weak, depending
on its actually ability to successfully maintain its inferential claim. That is, if the
premise(s) of a certain inductive argument actually support its conclusion in such
a way that it is improbable for the premises to be true and the conclusion false,
then that particular inductive argument is strong. If, however, its premise(s)
actually support its conclusion in such a way that it is probable for the premises
to be true and the conclusion false, then that particular inductive argument is
weak.
Furthermore, depending on its actually ability to successfully maintain its
inferential claim as well as its factual claim, a deductive argument can be either
sound or unsound. That is, if a deductive argument actually maintained its
inferential claim, (i.e., if it is valid), and its factual claim, (i.e., if all of its premises
are true), then that particular deductive argument will be a sound argument.
However, if it fails to maintain either of its claims, it will be an unsound argument.
Likewise, depending on its actually ability to successfully maintain its inferential
claim as well as its factual claim, an inductive argument can be either cogent or
uncogent. That is, if an inductive argument actually maintained its inferential
claim, (i.e., if it is strong), and its factual claim, (i.e., if all of its premises are
probably true), then that particular inductive argument will be a cogent argument.
However, if it fails to maintain either of its claims, it will be an uncogent argument.
In this chapter, we will discuss logic and its basic concepts, the techniques of
distinguishing arguments from non-argumentative passages, and the types of
arguments.