-- 14-- Deductive Reasoning; Argument, Reading Beyond Words, Internet Resources Evaluation

-- 14--
TFY C12 Deductive Reasoning,


CRCB 12 Argument
CRCB 13 Reading Beyond the Words
CRCB 14 Evaluating Internet Resources


TFY Chapter Twelve Deductive Reasoning
This chapter explains the fundamental standards that govern deductive reasoning. It offers a basic vocabulary of logic and
explains how deduction and induction
interplay in our thinking. Discussion with multiple exercises will show you the
meaning and significance of such terms
as syllogism, premises and conclusion,
validity and soundness. A writing
application asks you to write a deductive argument based on a wise saying. Final
reading selections by Thomas Jefferson
and Martin Luther King demonstrate
skilled deductive reasoning of enduring persuasiveness.
Links

Web Links
Chapter 13	back to top
Arguments and Inferences
http://www.philosophypages.com/lg/e01.htm
Tie together what you have learned about inferences and argument by reading this article taken from Philosophy Pages.
Declaration of Human Rights
http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html
Explain how this document represents a deductive argument.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
http://nobelprize.org/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html
Here is a biography of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Thomas Jefferson
http://etext.virginia.edu/jefferson/
Review the life and writings of Thomas Jefferson in this Digital Archive.
Venn Diagrams
http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?id=L384
Past editions of Thinking for Yourself have included Venn diagrams such as those found at this site. They offer a useful visual approach to logic.

Student Map


TFY - Chapter 12 Deductive Reasoning Student Summary

This chapter was all about deductive reasoning and the logic behind it. The chapter also compared deductive
reasoning with inductive reasoning. Deductive reasoning usually starts with a general principle and then applies it to a specific instance. While inductive reasoning usually starts with a more specific instance and then pulls it into a more general principle.

The logic behind the deduction is a science of good reasoning, both inductive and deductive. I learned in this

chapter there are some key terms I must understand in order to understand the basics of logic. The terms I need to understand are: argument, reasoning, syllogism, premise (major and minor), conclusion, validity, and
soundness.

From previous chapters, and this one, I learned that an argument can be both inductive and deductive and can be valid even if the premises are not true. I previously also learned that reasoning is drawn from facts, which will lead you to conclusions, judgments, or inferences about whatever topic you are discussing or reading about.

Conclusion, validity and soundness are also some terms that I have already known the meaning behind. Your conclusion is a way to summarize your main point or what you are trying to get across or get action on. Validity and soundness both have to do with the truth behind your argument, reasoning, and premise. Premise was also a
word that was previously discussed in another chapter, but in this chapter we learned that a major premise is
more of a generalization, while a minor premise is more specific. The new key term to me in this chapter is
syllogism. I have learned that this term clarifies the claims or premises, helps you to discover and expose hidden premises, and helps to find out if one thought follows another thought logically.

“TFY” Chapter 12 – Deductive Reasoning Exercise

Discovery Exercise – Page 348 – What is Deductive Reasoning?
Using at least two dictionaries, look up the terms deduction, deductive logic, and reasoning. Then write out in your own words a definition of deductive reasoning.

Deduction:
1. Noun – the act or process of deducting; subtraction (dictionary.com)
2. Noun – that which is deducted; that which is subtracted or removed (wiktionary.com)

Deductive logic:
1. Noun – a process of reasoning in which a conclusion follows necessary from the premises presented, so that the conclusion cannot be false if the premises are true. (dictionary.com)
2. Noun – a process of reasoning that moves from the general to the specific, in which a conclusion follows necessarily from the premises presented, so that the conclusion cannot be false if the premises are true. (wiktionary.com)

Deductive reasoning:
1. Noun – reasoning from the general to the particular (or from cause to effect) (dictionary.com)
2. Noun – inference in which the conclusion is just as certain as the premises (wiktionary.com)

My definition of deductive reasoning: reasoning that goes from a more general topic into the details of that topic.


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“CRCB” Chapter 12 - Identifying and Evaluating Arguments Summary


In this chapter you learned that you need to analyze and evaluate an argument. You need to look at the argument in more detail. You need to pin point the reasons and the conclusion. I also learned there are two main types of arguments. There are deductive and inductive arguments. Deductive arguments begin with a general statement and then show the supporting details. An inductive argument begins with a series of observations and then concludes with a generalization that was logically pulled from the observations. Inductive arguments are mostly what type of arguments occur in our every day lives.

You need to determine dependability by asking questions like, who wrote what you are reading, is the source reliable, when was the article published, and what is the author’s credentials? You also need to distinguish fact from opinion and detect fallacies. I learned there are several types of fallacies to look out for. These types of fallacies are: either/ or thinking, hasty generalization or overgeneralization, red herring, false cause, slippery slope, ad hominem, and circular reasoning. All of these fallacies can lead to error in the reasoning of an argument. They can cause you to limit your answers to a problem, have too weak of supporting reason to too broad of a conclusion. They can cause or consist of author assumption, reader distraction or exclude the proper reasoning. Reading this chapter was interesting to me. I feel that I learned some helpful tips on how to evaluate arguments. Especially some ways that an author of an article would try to “trick” me into believing what they want without properly making up my own mind.