Dependent and Independent Reasons

Authors

  • Robert J. Yanal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22329/il.v13i3.2563

Keywords:

linked premises, convergent premises, induction, deduction

Abstract

How are dependent (or linked) premises to be distinguished from independent (or convergent) premises? Deductive validity, sometimes proposed as a necessary condition for depende'nce, cannot be, for the premises of both inductive and deductive but invalid arguments can be dependent. The question is really this: When do multiple premises for a certain conclusion fonn one argument for that conclusion and when do they form multiple arguments? Answer: Premises are dependent when the evidence they offer for their conclusion is more than the ordinary sum of their probabilities. Ordinary sums are defined in the paper.

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Published

1991-01-01

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 3 (1991)

Section

Articles

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