Arguments. INDUCTIVE ARGUMENT. An argument in which the premises . support. the conclusion.. (An argument in which . IF. the premises are true, then the conclusion is . PROBABLY. true.). - Based on experience or observation. - Results are probable, not absolutely certain. - Typically found in science. DEDUCTIVE ARGUMENT. An argument in which the premises . prove. the conclusion.. (An argument in which . IF. the premises were true, then the conclusion would . HAVE. to be true.). - Based on rules or laws. - Results are absolutely certain. - Typically found in math. ARGUMENTS. ...with examples of each kind!. SOUND. A valid argument with . ALL. true premises. P: . All people are mortal. P: . Socrates is a person. -------------------------------------------. C: . Therefore, Socrates is mortal. UNSOUND. A valid argument with . some. true premises. P: . All cats have blue teeth. P: . Francis is a cat. ------------------------------------------------. C: . Therefore, Francis has blue teeth. INVALID. When the truth of the premise(s) . does NOT guarantee. the truth of the conclusion. P: . All people are mortal. P: . My cat Francis is mortal. ------------------------------------------------------. C: . Therefore, my cat Francis is a person. VALID. When the truth of the premise(s) . guarantees. the truth of the conclusion. P:. All people are mortal. P: . Socrates is a person. -------------------------------------------. C: . Therefore, Socrates is mortal. STRONG. When the premises . strongly. support the conclusion.. P: . This cooler contains 30 cans. P:. 25 cans selected at random were found to be beer. -----------------------------------------------------------------------. C: . Thus, probably all the cans are beer. WEAK. When the premises . weakly. support the conclusion.. P: . This cooler contains 30 cans. P: . 3 cans selected at random were found to be beer. ---------------------------------------------------------------------. B: . Thus, probably all the cans are beer. 2008. Karla Pierce.. Definitions. Statement. - a declarative sentence that is either true or false, but not both.. Argument. - a sequence of statements that includes at least one . premise. and a single . conclusion. .. Premise. - a statement that serves as evidence, towards proving or supporting the conclusion. .. Conclusion. - the statement one is trying to prove.. Common Substitutions. A . Statement. is also referred to as a . Claim. .. The . Conclusion. is also referred to as a . Claim, Thesis, Position,. or . View.. Argument Analysis. ". Standard Logical Form. ". P: . Premise(s). ---------------------. C: . Conclusion.