Argument (logic)
In logic and philosophy, an argument is a series of statements typically used to persuade someone of something or to present reasons for accepting a conclusion.
Description
The general form of an argument in a natural language is that of premises (typically in the form of propositions, statements or sentences) in support of a claim: the conclusion.
The structure of some arguments can also be set out in a formal language, and formally defined "arguments" can be made independently of natural language arguments, as in mathematics, logic, mathematical logic, and computer science.
In deductive reasoning, the premises of an argument guarantee the truth of the conclusion
In inductive reasoning, arguments provide reasons supporting the conclusion's probable truth.
The standards for evaluating non-deductive arguments may rest on different or additional criteria than truth, for example:
- The persuasiveness of so-called "indispensability claims" in transcendental arguments.
- The quality of hypotheses in retroduction.
- The disclosure of new possibilities for thinking and acting.
The standards and criteria used in evaluating arguments and their forms of reasoning are studied in logic.
Ways of formulating arguments effectively are studied in rhetoric (see also Argumentation theory).
An argument in a formal language shows the logical form of the symbolically represented or natural language arguments obtained by its interpretations.
Other uses
In computer programming, the term argument is another name for a parameter.
See also
- Abductive reasoning
- Argument map
- Argumentation theory
- Argumentative dialogue
- Belief bias
- Boolean algebra
- Deductive reasoning
- Defeasible reasoning
- Evidence
- Evidence-based policy
- Fallacy
- Dialectic
- Formal fallacy
- Inductive reasoning
- Informal fallacy
- Inquiry
- Logic
- Mathematical logic
- Parameter (computer programming)
- Philosophy
- Practical arguments
- Soundness theorem
- Soundness
- Truth
- Validity
External links
- Argument @ Wikipedia
