I have researched several cites...I am stil confused on the difference between deductive and inductive arguments.
My question is: who decides if it is a deductive or iductive argument? Ther author or the reader?
Deductive and Inductive Arguments [Internet Encyclopedia of ... A deductive argument is an argument in which it is thought that the premises provide a guarantee of the truth of the conclusion. In a deductive argument, ...
http://www.iep.utm.edu/d/ded-ind.htm
Deductive and Inductive Arguments: What’s the Difference? Arguments can be separated into two categories: deductive and inductive. A deductive argument is one in which it is impossible for the premises to be true ...
http://atheism.about.com/od/criticalthinking/a/deductivearg.htm
Mission: Critical (Deductive Arguments) In general, there are two distinct ways of expressing a deductive argument: as a syllogism, or as a conditional. Any deductive argument can be expressed as ...
(Broken Link Removed)
There are two main types of arguments: deductive and inductive. A deductive argument is an argument such that the premises provide (or appear to provide) ...
http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/
An equivalent way of saying deductive is valid.
The classification of an argument as deductive or inductive is determined by the structure and content of the argument itself, not by either the author or the reader. Let me explain the difference between deductive and inductive arguments, which will help clarify who decides.
Deductive arguments:
- Deductive reasoning is based on the principle of logical necessity, where the conclusion is guaranteed to follow from the premises.
- In a deductive argument, if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true.
- The truth of the premises directly supports the truth of the conclusion.
- Deductive arguments aim to provide certainty and prove a conclusion.
- Examples of deductive arguments include mathematical proofs and valid syllogisms.
Inductive arguments:
- Inductive reasoning is based on the principle of probability, where the conclusion is likely, but not guaranteed, to be true.
- In an inductive argument, the truth of the premises makes the conclusion more probable, but it does not provide absolute certainty.
- Inductive arguments aim to provide support or evidence for a conclusion.
- Examples of inductive arguments include scientific experiments, statistical analyses, and general observations.
Now, the classification of deductive or inductive is determined by analyzing the structure and content of the argument. It doesn't depend on the author's intentions or the reader's interpretation alone. However, the author's choice of language, logical structure, and the presentation of evidence can provide clues to help identify the type of argument being made.
As a reader, when encountering an argument, you can look for key indicators within the argument that point to whether it is deductive or inductive. Look for phrases that suggest certainty (deductive) or phrases that indicate probability or likelihood (inductive). Identifying the premises and the conclusion will also assist in analyzing the argument.
Remember that arguments can vary in strength, regardless of whether they are deductive or inductive. Some deductive arguments may have weak or false premises, and some inductive arguments may have strong evidence. The classification helps us understand the structure and nature of the reasoning being employed but doesn't determine the overall quality or validity of the argument.