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Deductive vs. Non-Deductive Arguments Guide

The document discusses the difference between deductive and non-deductive arguments. It provides 10 examples of arguments and asks the reader to identify each as deductive or non-deductive. Deductive arguments are those where if the premises are true, the conclusion must necessarily be true. Non-deductive arguments are those where the premises provide some degree of support for the conclusion but do not guarantee its truth even if the premises are true.

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46 views2 pages

Deductive vs. Non-Deductive Arguments Guide

The document discusses the difference between deductive and non-deductive arguments. It provides 10 examples of arguments and asks the reader to identify each as deductive or non-deductive. Deductive arguments are those where if the premises are true, the conclusion must necessarily be true. Non-deductive arguments are those where the premises provide some degree of support for the conclusion but do not guarantee its truth even if the premises are true.

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© All Rights Reserved
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Deductive vs.

Non-deductive Arguments
Identify each of the following arguments as deductive or non-deductive.

1. Triangle ABC is an equilateral triangle. Triangle DEF is congruent to triangle ABC.


Therefore, triangle DEF is equilateral.

2. People who exercise regularly have a longer life expectancy. Active Annie exercises
regularly, but Lazy Larry does not. Therefore, Active Annie will outlive Lazy Larry.

3. I am certain that it will rain tomorrow. The meteorologists have forecasted a 90% chance of
rain.

4. If I want to become a great philosopher, I need to hone my logic skills. I can only hone my
logic skills if I study hard. I can’t both study hard and watch cartoons. Therefore, if I watch
cartoons, I won’t become a great philosopher.

5. More people live in China than in Japan. I watched a documentary on population growth,
which said that China was the most populous nation in the world.

6. Prometheus has a fever and lots of itchy red spots on his body. He hasn’t had the chicken pox
before and he never received a chicken pox vaccination. Prometheus must have the chicken
pox.

7. Mary is taller than either Maria or Mariah. Mary is not taller than Mariah. Therefore, Mary is
taller than Maria.

8. It is not wise to lie. Even though lying may seem like an easy way out of a situation, it will
only create bigger problems in the future.

9. The universe started expanding from a single speck at the moment of the big bang. It would
require infinite time for the universe to expand infinitely from that speck, but infinite time
has not passed since the big bang. Therefore, the universe is not infinite.
10. This worksheet has the same number of deductive arguments as non-deductive arguments. So
far, there are five non-deductive arguments and four deductive arguments. This is the final
argument on the worksheet. Therefore, this argument must be deductive.

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