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Deductive Reasoning Outline: I. II. III.

Introduction Definition of Deductive Reasoning Formal Validity and Soundness

References: Books: Espartinez, Alma S., (2011). Logic: The Art of Reasoning,6th Edition. The Zone Printing Press: California, USA. Saladin, Kenneth S., (2007). Anatomy and Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function. New York: Mc Graw-Hill. Internet Sources: http://www.brown.edu http://matt.colorado.edu/teaching/highcog/fall8/j99.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deductive_reasoning http://www.nakedscience.org/mrg/Deductive%20and%20Inductive%20Reasoning.htm http://www.triviumpursuit.com/articles/two_methods_of_reasoning.php

The whole of science is nothing more than a refinement f everyday thinking. - Albert Einstein

Deductive Reasoning I. Introduction

Reasoning is a method of coming to conclusions by the use of logical argument. It is a process of thoughts that yields a conclusion from percepts, thoughts, or assertions. There are three basic form of reasoning: inductive and deductive. Inductive and deductive reasoning are two methods of logic used to arrive at a conclusion based on information assumed to be true. Example: 1. All vehicles are instruments of transportation; 2. But jeep is a vehicle; 3. Therefore, Jeep is an instrument of transportation. Every reasoning process therefore, involves a number of previously known truths. These truths are called the premises. The reasoning process also involves the knowledge of a new truth (conclusion) which is inferred from the premises. II. Definition of Deductive Reasoning Deductive reasoning also deductive logic or logical deduction or, informally, "top-down" logic, is a reasoning based on the hypothetico-deductive method. This is a method of obtaining information by first creating a hypothesis and then testing that hypothesis for accuracy. It is a form of logical reasoning in which specific conclusions are inferred from more general premises or principles. Derived conclusions may offer predictions that can be tested empirically. Deductive reasoning is the kind of reasoning in which, the truth of the input propositions (the premises) logically guarantees the truth of the output proposition (the conclusion), provided that no mistake has been made in the reasoning. The premises may be propositions that the reasoner believes or assumptions that the reasoner is exploring. Deductive reasoning can be described as reasoning in the form if A then B. Deduction is in some sense the direct application of knowledge in the production of new knowledge.
An example of a deductive argument: 1. All men are mortal. 2. Aristotle is a man. 3. Therefore, Aristotle is mortal. The first premise states that all objects classified as "men" have the attribute "mortal". The second premise states that "Aristotle" is classified as a "man" a member of the set "men". The conclusion then states that "Aristotle" must be "mortal" because he inherits this attribute from his classification as a "man".

III. Formal Validity and Soundness Deductive arguments are evaluated in terms of their validity and soundness. An argument is valid if it is impossible for its premises to be true while its conclusion is false. In other words, the conclusion must be true if the premises are true. An argument can be valid even though the premises are false. An argument is sound if it is valid and the premises are true. A "valid" deductive argument is one in which the conclusion necessarily follows from the premise. (All dogs have fleas. This is a dog. Therefore this dog has fleas.) The premise may not be "true" but the form of the argument is nevertheless "valid". (If all dogs do have fleas, and if this is a dog, then this dog must necessarily have fleas.) An "invalid" deductive argument will contain something in the conclusion wholly new and independent from those things mentioned in the premise of the argument. (Only man is a rational being. Therefore, no woman is a rational being. This argument equivocates on the meaning of "man." In the premise, the word "man" means mankind, including woman. In the conclusion, the word "woman" is used to designate that portion of mankind which is of the female gender as distinguished from the male portion called "man." So a new concept a distinction in gender is introduced in the conclusion.) The truth (or verity) of the conclusion of a deductive argument is dependent upon two things: the correctness (or validity) of the form of the argument, and the truth (or verity) of the premise. The validity of the form is determined by the application of established rules. So the only weakness of a deductive argument is the truth value (verity) of its premises. Your conclusions are only as good as your premises. Or, to put it another way, your presuppositions will always determine your conclusions.

The conclusion of a valid deductive argument cannot be proven false unless its premises are also proven false, and it cannot be proven true unless its premises are also proven true. In other words, truth or falsehood is dependent upon the premises. Examples of deductive reasoning: The nurse knows that the nursing diagnosis of Fluid Volume Excess may be related to altered circulation or an electrolyte imbalance. As a result, the nurse reviews lab results and checks the blood pressure and ankles for swelling in a client who recently had cardiac surgery. Reporter: Rose Ann A. Salunga July 27, 2013

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