Deduction and Induction

Deductive

Arguments
Inductive

Deduction and Induction

Deductive arguments are arguments in which the
conclusion is claimed or intended to follow necessarily
from the premises.
( If premises are true, then the conclusion must be
true).
Inductive arguments are arguments in which the
conclusion is claimed or intended to follow probably
from the premises.
( If premises are true, then the conclusion is false or
probably true).

Deduction and Induction

Arguments below
deductive or inductive?

Argument 1:
Most Germany cars are high in maintenance cost
Mercedes is a Germany car
Therefore, Mercedes are high in maintenance cost
Answer: Deductive argument

Deduction and Induction

Argument 2:
Steven was Greek.
Most Greeks eat fish.
Steven ate fish.
Answer: Inductive argument
Argument 3:
Bergen is either in Norway or Sweden.
If Bergen is in Norway, then Bergen is in Scandinavia.
If Bergen is in Sweden, then Bergen is in Scandinavia.
Therefore, Bergen is in Scandinavia.
Answer: Deductive argument

Deduction and Induction

Argument 4:
The members of the Williams family are Susan,
Nathan and Alexander.
Susan wears glasses.
Nathan wears glasses.
Alexander wears glasses.
Therefore, all members of the Williams family
wear glasses.
Answer: Inductive argument

KEY DIFFERENCES
Deductive arguments claim that

If the premises are true, then the

conclusion must be true.
The conclusion follows
necessarily from the premises.
The premises provide conclusive
evidence for the truth of the
conclusion.
It is impossible for all the
premises to be true and the
conclusion false.
It is logically inconsistent to
assert the premises and deny the
conclusion, meaning that if you
accept the premises, you must
accept the conclusion.

Inductive arguments claim that

If the premises are true, then the

conclusion is probably true.
The conclusion follows probably
from the premises.
The premises provide good (but
not conclusive) evidence for the
truth of the conclusion.
It is unlikely for the premises to
be true and the conclusion false.
Although it is logically consistent
to assert the premises and deny
the conclusion, the conclusion is
probably true if the premises are
true.

Exercises
Instruction: Solve the following mini-mysteries on your own,
using your own native reasoning abilities. Then discuss your
solutions with partner.

1. Either Bill was the murderer, or Peter was the

murderer.
If Peter was murderer, then traces of cyanide should
have been found on the body.
No traces of cyanide were found on the body.
Who is the murderer?

Exercises
2. Lan, Huong, and Vu are college friends in Vietnam
who plan to spend a semester abroad. They can
study in the U.S., England, Singapore, Canada,
Japan, France. Lan is willing to go anywhere except
Asia. Huong doesnt care where they go, as long as
its not France. Vu prefers not to study in America.
Which is the one country that satisfied all of these
various preferences?