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Deductive Reasoning

Deductive reasoning is a logical process that draws specific conclusions from general premises assumed to be true, characterized by certainty if the premises are valid. It contrasts with inductive reasoning, which generalizes from specific observations. Validity and soundness are crucial, as a valid argument's conclusion follows logically from its premises, while soundness requires both validity and true premises.

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46 views9 pages

Deductive Reasoning

Deductive reasoning is a logical process that draws specific conclusions from general premises assumed to be true, characterized by certainty if the premises are valid. It contrasts with inductive reasoning, which generalizes from specific observations. Validity and soundness are crucial, as a valid argument's conclusion follows logically from its premises, while soundness requires both validity and true premises.

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mariacassandra973
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Deductive Reasoning

What is Deductive Reasoning?


A logical process where conclusions are drawn
based on premises that are assumed to be true.

It is "top-down" reasoning, moving from general


principles to specific conclusions.
Characteristics of Deductive Reasoning

CERTAINTY PREMISES CONCLUSION

If the premises are true The starting points or A statement that logically
and the reasoning is valid, statements assumed to be follows from the premises.
the conclusion is true.
guaranteed to be true.
Deductive Reasoning Inductive Reasoning
Starts with a general statement or Starts with specific observations or
hypothesis and examines the real examples and generalizes to
possibilities to reach a specific, logical form a broader conclusion.
conclusion. Example: Every swan I've seen is
Example: All humans are mortal. white. Therefore, all swans are
Socrates is a human. Therefore, white.
Socrates is mortal.
MAJOR PREMISE: A GENERAL
STATEMENT OR PRINCIPLE.
Major Premise: All birds have wings.

Structure MINOR PREMISE: A SPECIFIC


of STATEMENT RELATED TO THE MAJOR

Deductive PREMISE.
Minor Premise: A robin is a bird.
Reasoning
CONCLUSION: A LOGICAL RESULT FROM
COMBINING THE MAJOR AND MINOR
PREMISES.
Conclusion: Therefore, a robin has wings.
Validity and Soundness
VALIDITY:
A DEDUCTIVE ARGUMENT IS VALID IF THE CONCLUSION FOLLOWS
LOGICALLY FROM THE PREMISES, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE
PREMISES ARE TRUE.

SOUNDNESS:
A DEDUCTIVE ARGUMENT IS SOUND IF IT IS BOTH VALID AND ITS
PREMISES ARE TRUE.
Example of Deductive Reasoning
EXAMPLE 2:
EXAMPLE 1:
MAJOR PREMISE: ALL STUDENTS
MAJOR PREMISE: ALL MAMMALS
IN THE CLASS MUST SUBMIT
HAVE HEARTS.
THEIR HOMEWORK.
MINOR PREMISE: A DOG IS A
MINOR PREMISE: JOHN IS A
MAMMAL.
STUDENT IN THE CLASS.
CONCLUSION: THEREFORE, A DOG
CONCLUSION: THEREFORE, JOHN
HAS A HEART.
MUST SUBMIT HIS HOMEWORK.
Common Pitfalls
FALSE PREMISES: EVEN IF THE REASONING IS VALID, A FALSE
PREMISE CAN LEAD TO AN INCORRECT CONCLUSION.

LOGICAL FALLACIES: FLAWED REASONING OR ERRORS IN LOGIC THAT


UNDERMINE THE ARGUMENT.

EXAMPLE: AFFIRMING THE CONSEQUENT (IF P THEN Q; Q IS TRUE,


THEREFORE P IS TRUE).
Conclusion
Deductive reasoning is a powerful tool for logical thinking and
making conclusions based on general principles.

It's important to ensure that premises are true and the reasoning
process is valid to arrive at sound conclusions.

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