Analogical Reasoning
Define an inductive argument
An argument in which the premises are claimed to support the conclusion in such a way where it would be improbable for the premises to be true and the conclusion false.
State Mill's four methods of causal reasoning?
1. The Method of Agreement
2. The Method of Difference
3. The Joint Method
4. The Method of Concomitant Variation
A way of demarcating science from non-science
Falsification Principle
The nine standards of critical evaluation
Clarity, Accuracy, Precision, Relevance, Depth, Breadth, Logic, Significance, Fairness
Name the six inductive fallacies.
Appeal to Unqualified Authority
Appeal to Ignorance
Hasty Generalization
False Cause
Slippery Slope
Weak Analogy
Give an example of an inductive argument.
Luisa has an intolerance to gluten, and that sandwich may have gluten in it. Therefore, Luisa might not eat that sandwich.
Describe how necessary and sufficient conditions are different.
A necessary Condition is when A is necessary for B but not enough to cause it and a sufficient Condition is when A is enough to cause B.
An occurrence in the real world that is generally not disputed.
Fact
Having importance
Significance
The link between premises and conclusion depends on an unlikely causal connection.
False cause
The six rules of analogical reasoning
1.Relevance of similarities
2.Number of similarities
3.Nature and degree of disanalogy
4.Number of primary analogates (comparable things)
5.Diversity of primary analogates
6.Specificity of the conclusion
Systematically applying both Mill's method of agreement and method of difference to show the effect of some cause.
A coherent group of statements formulated to explain a group of facts or phenomena in the natural world and repeatedly confirmed through experiment or observation.
Theory
Define breadth
Having broad range or extent
Define hasty generalization
An argument that draws a conclusion about all members of a group of evidence that pertains only to a selected sample.
What is the definition of analogical reasoning?
Involves a comparison of instances
Define Mill's method of Concomitant Variation and give an example.
Locating a causal connection between conditions by matching variations in one condition with the variations in another.
Ex. Which fertilizer is optimal based off of how many table spoons sed in relation to plant growth.
The four steps of Hypothetical Reasoning
1.Occurrence of a problem
2.Formulating a hypothesis
3.Drawing implications from the hypothesis
4.Testing the implications
Being coherent and intelligible
Clarity
Give an example of a weak analogy.
If a car breaks down on the freeway, a passing mechanic is not obligated to render emergency road service. For similar reasons, if a person suffers a heart attack on the street, a passing physician is not obligated to render emergency medical assistance.
What is the difference between good and bad analogical reasoning?
If the instances are similar enough, then the comparison and the decision made from the comparison is a good one. If the instances are not similar enough then it is not a good comparison.
The method of agreement is systematically searching for a single factor common to a number occurrences in order to identify a cause. The method of difference is Systematically searching for a single factor present in an event in which the phenomenon in question is present but absent in occurrences in which the phenomenon is absent.
examples...
What does Fallibilistic Empiricism tell us?
Empiricism - the theory that knowledge is derived from sense-experience.
Fallibilism - the principle that propositions concerning empirical knowledge can be accepted even though they cannot be proved with absolute certainty.
So it tells us that scientific claims are probable.
The difference between accuracy and precision
Accuracy refers to being correct while precision refers to being exact
People have been trying for centuries to provide conclusive evidence for the claims of astrology, and no one has ever succeeded. Therefore, we must conclude that astrology is a lot of nonsense.
Appeal to ignorance