Teaching Formal Logic and

Argument

“Familiarize students with the basics of

argument and logic, and encourage them to
evaluate an argument based on the formal
principles of reason.”
– Sober: Core Questions in Philosophy (8)
 Types of arguments
Divided into premises and conclusions
Good arguments are rationally persuasive

1. Deductive – an argument where IF the premises

were true, the conclusion would have to be true.
2. Inductive – The conclusion stretches beyond the
information given in the premises.
3. Abductive – An answer is inferred as an explanation
to a consequence.
What Makes a Valid Argument?
• Do not have to have true premises or
conclusions.

All horses have rabies

All students are horses
________
Therefore, all students have rabies
 This slide is an explanation as to
why the argument on the prior slide
is valid

All Bs are Cs
All As are Bs
________
Therefore, all As are Cs
 Testing for Invalidity

If John doesn’t shower for two years,

he will smell bad
John smells bad
________
Therefore, John hasn’t showered for
two years
This slide is brought to you by Rice-a-
Roni, the “San Francisco Treat”

This is an example of a form of an

invalid argument

If A, then B
B
________
Therefore, A
 Things to Avoid:
• Begging the question
• Wishful thinking
• Straw man arguments
• Ad hominem
Activity: Which of these is valid?
If John stands in the rain without an
umbrella, he will get wet
John is not wet
________
Therefore, John is not standing in the rain
without an umbrella
 Activity Cont’d
If Jennifer lives in the US, then she lives in
California
Jennifer does not live in California
________
Therefore, Jennifer does not live in the US
 Activity Cont’d
If Craig wins the lottery, he will become rich
Craig is not rich
________
Therefore, Craig did not win the lottery
 Inductive Arguments
A survey is conducted wherein 2,000 citizens of
Greenville are called at random and are asked whether or
not they like college football. The result is that 80% of
those called claim to like college football. Thus, two
inductive arguments can be formed:

80% of the people called said they like college football.

Therefore, 80% of the people called like football.

And,

80% of the people called said they like college football.

80% of the residents of Greenville like college football.
 Abductive Arguments
The stereo will not turn on
It is plugged into an outlet that works and I
am pressing the correct button
________
Therefore, the stereo is broken
 Burden of Proof
Abductive arguments can sometimes work very well. Yet
we cannot always take them at face value even in cases
where there are no better explanations of an occurrence
at a given time. It is always the burden of the party
making a claim to support their argument. For example:

(There is a noise coming from the basement)

Kelly: “What was that noise?”
Maggie: “There are ghosts in the basement playing shuffleboard.”
Kelly: “That’s stupid. I don’t believe that.”
Maggie: “That’s fine if you don’t believe me, but to what would you
attribute the noise?”
Kelly: “I guess I’m not sure.”
Maggie: “Well, my explanation, if true, would explain the noise. If
you want to reject my theory, you must come up with one that
gives a better explanation. If you can’t, you must accept my
theory.”
 Suggested Criteria for Grading an
Argumentative Paper
• Clear statement of argument, hypothesis,
or purpose of the paper.
• Effective use of evidence drawn from the
reading or research.
• Logical sequence of unified paragraphs to
make your points and develop your
arguments.
- From Genre Across the Curriculum (58)