Definitions

Argument – A group of statements which attempts to provide reasons that demonstrate the truth of one of the statements.

Premise – A statement in an argument that provides a reason which is intended to support the conclusion.

Conclusion – The statement in an argument that the premises are intended to support.

Deductive Argument – An argument that attempts to demonstrate with certainty that its conclusion is true.

Inductive Argument – An argument that attempts to demonstrate with probability that its conclusion is true.

Probability – A greater than 50% chance, more likely than not.

Informal Fallacy – A faulty argument that appears to be a good argument.

Valid Argument – (A) A deductive argument (B) whose conclusion follows with certainty from the premises (C) if we assume that each of its premises is true.

Sound Argument – (A) A deductive argument that (B) is valid and (C) has all true premises.

Strong Argument – (A) An inductive argument (B) whose conclusion follows with probability from the premises (C) if we assume that each of its premises is true.

Cogent Argument – (A) An inductive argument that (B) is strong and (C) has all true premises.

Explanation – A group of statements which attempts to show how or why something is the case. In contrast, an argument attempts to show that something is the case (i.e., that the conclusion is true).