Chapter 3.2 - Basic Logical Concepts
Chapter 3.2 - Basic Logical Concepts
BASIC LOGICAL
CONCEPTS
DR. PHAM THANH TUNG
PTTUNG@HCMIU.EDU.VN
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CONTENT
1. Deductive validity
2. Inductive Strength
DEDUCTIVE VALIDITY
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DEDUCTIVE VALIDITY
DEDUCTIVE VALIDITY
DEDUCTIVE VALIDITY
DEDUCTIVE VALIDITY
Example:
• If you’re reading this, you are live. • Premise 1: True
• You are reading this. • Premise 2: True
• Therefore, you are alive. • Conclusion: True
DEDUCTIVE VALIDITY
Example:
• All fruits are vegetables. • Premise 1: False
• Spinach is a fruit. • Premise 2: False
• Therefore, spinach is a vegetable. • Conclusion: True
DEDUCTIVE VALIDITY
Example:
• All squares are circles. • Premise 1: False
• All circles are triangles. • Premise 2: False
• Therefore, all squares are triangles. • Conclusion: False
DEDUCTIVE VALIDITY
DEDUCTIVE VALIDITY
Example:
• All dogs are mammals. • Premise 1: True
• All cats are mammals. • Premise 2: True
• So, all cats are dogs. • Conclusion: False
DEDUCTIVE VALIDITY
Example:
• All dogs are animals. • Premise 1: True
• Lassie is an animal. • Premise 2: True
• Therefore, Lassie is a dog. • Conclusion: True
DEDUCTIVE VALIDITY
Example:
• All pears are vegetables. • Premise 1: False
• All fruits are vegetables. • Premise 2: False
• So, all pears are fruits. • Conclusion: True
DEDUCTIVE VALIDITY
Example:
• All dogs are cats. • Premise 1: False
• All cats are whales. • Premise 2: False
• So, all whales are dogs. • Conclusion: False
DEDUCTIVE VALIDITY
DEDUCTIVE VALIDITY
Deductive
argument
Valid Invalid
argument argument
DEDUCTIVE VALIDITY
Argument 1:
• If Flipper is a dolphin, then Flipper is a mammal.
• Flipper is a dolphin.
• So, Flipper is a mammal.
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DEDUCTIVE VALIDITY
Argument 2:
• If anything is a trout, then it’s a fish.
• A dolphin is not a fish.
• Therefore, a dolphin is not a trout.
Argument 3:
• If we’re at the North Pole, then we’re on Earth.
• We are on Earth.
• Therefore, we’re at the North Pole.
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DEDUCTIVE VALIDITY
Argument 4:
• If Alex the Dog is human, then Alex has a heart.
• Alex is not human.
• So, Alex doesn’t have a heart.
Argument 5:
• Some people like ice cream.
• Some people like cake.
• So, some people who like ice cream must also like cake.
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DEDUCTIVE VALIDITY
Argument 6:
• Your mother can’t be a professional race car driver.
• Only men are professional race car drivers.
• And your mother, obviously, is not a man.
Argument 7:
• Some people like ice cream.
• Some people like cake.
• So, some people who like ice cream must also like cake.
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DEDUCTIVE VALIDITY
Argument 1:
• All mosquitoes are insects.
• All insects are animals.
• So, all mosquitoes are animals.
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DEDUCTIVE VALIDITY
Argument 2:
• Either dogs are cats, or dogs are fish.
• Dogs are not fish.
• So, dogs are cats.
Argument 3:
• If Rome is in Italy, then Rome is in Europe.
• Rome is in Italy.
• So, Rome is in Europe
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DEDUCTIVE VALIDITY
Argument 4:
• If Bill Gates is a billionaire, then he’s rich.
• Bill Gates is rich.
• So, he’s a billionaire
Argument 5:
• No cats are dogs.
• Tom is a cat.
• So, Tom is not a dog.
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DEDUCTIVE VALIDITY
Argument 6:
• If John plays for the New York Yankees, then he is a
professional baseball player.
• John does not play for the New York Yankees.
• So, John is not a professional baseball player.
Argument 7:
• California has a larger population than Ohio.
• Ohio has a larger population than Vermont.
• So, California has a larger population than Vermont.
INDUCTIVE STRENGTH
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INDUCTIVE STRENGTH
INDUCTIVE STRENGTH
INDUCTIVE STRENGTH
INDUCTIVE STRENGTH
Example:
• Most college students own laptops • Premise 1: True
• Andy is a college student. • Premise 2: True
• So, Andy probably owns a laptop • Conclusion: Probably true
INDUCTIVE STRENGTH
Example:
• Every previous U.S. president has • Premise 1: False
been white.
• So, the next U.S. president probably • Conclusion: Probably true
will be white.
INDUCTIVE STRENGTH
Example:
• All previous U.S. presidents have • Premise 1: False
been women.
• Therefore, it is likely that the next • Conclusion: Probably false
U.S. president will be a woman.
INDUCTIVE STRENGTH
INDUCTIVE STRENGTH
Example:
• Most U.S. presidents have been • Premise 1: True
married.
• Therefore, probably the next U.S. • Conclusion: Probably true
president will be a man.
INDUCTIVE STRENGTH
Example:
• Most U.S. presidents have been • Premise 1: True
over fifty years old.
• Therefore, probably the next U.S. • Conclusion: Probably false
president will be single.
INDUCTIVE STRENGTH
INDUCTIVE STRENGTH
Inductive
argument
Strong Weak
argument argument
INDUCTIVE STRENGTH
Argument 1:
• It tends to be cold in Alaska in January.
• So, probably it will be cold in Alaska next January.
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INDUCTIVE STRENGTH
Argument 2:
• The vast majority of Nobel laureates have been Vietnamese.
• Therefore, the next Nobel laureates will probably be a
Vietnamese.
Argument 3:
• In poker it’s OK to lie and deceive.
• Business is like poker.
• Therefore, in business it’s OK to lie and deceive.
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INDUCTIVE STRENGTH
Argument 4:
• Harvard University has been a leading American university for many
years.
• Therefore, probably Harvard University will be a leading American
university ten years from now
Argument 5:
• John F. Kennedy was a Democratic president, and he cheated on his
wife.
• Bill Clinton was a Democratic president, and he cheated on his wife.
• I suppose all Democratic presidents have cheated on their wives.