Logic Quiz #2 Study Guide

Definitions

Inductive Argument, Strength, Cogency, Probable, Additive

Deductive Argument, Validity, Soundness, Certainty

The rules for Negation, Conjunction, Disjunction, and Conditional (see below)

The Difference between an Explanation and an Argument

Mill’s Method of Agreement, Method of Difference, Joint Method, Correlation (see below)

Necessary and Sufficient Conditions

Internal and External Consistency

Fruitfulness, Scope, Simplicity, Conservatism

Exercises

Translate statements into symbolic form.

Determine the truth value of compound statements, given the truth value of their simple statements.

Write truth tables for each of the logical operators.

Use truth tables to determine the validity of propositional arguments (no more than 3 simple statements).

Identify which of Mill’s Methods is being used in a particular example.

Identify Necessary and Sufficient Conditions.

Compare the Fruitfulness, Scope, Simplicity, and Conservatism of various explanations.

Rules for Logical Operators

Negation – Reverses the truth value of the statement it negates.

Conjunction – Only true when both conjuncts are true.

Disjunction – Only false when both disjuncts are false.

Conditional – Only false when the antecedent is true and the consequent is false.

Mill’s Methods

Agreement – If two or more occurrences of a phenomenon have only one relevant factor in common, the phenomenon and the factor are probably causally related.

Difference – If there is only one relevant factor present when a phenomenon occurs, and absent when it does not occur, the phenomenon and the factor are probably causally related.

Joint – If two or more occurrences of a phenomenon have only one relevant factor in common, and that factor is the only one both present when the phenomenon occurs and absent when it does not occur, the phenomenon and the factor are probably causally related.

Correlation –  If a relevant factor is highly correlated with a phenomenon, the two are probably causally related.