Chapter 1: An introduction to philosophy of science
| Abstract | Deductive logic is about the validity of arguments. An argument is valid when its conclusion follows deductively from its premises. Here’s an example: If Alice is guilty then Bob is guilty, and Alice is guilty. Therefore, Bob is guilty. The validity of the argument has nothing to do with what the argument is about. It has nothing to do with the meaning, or content, of the argument beyond the meaning of logical phrases such as if…then. Thus, any argument of the following form (called modus ponens) is valid: If P then Q, and P, therefore Q. Any claims substituted for P and Q lead to an argument that is valid. Probability theory is also content-free in the same sense. This is why deductive logic and probability theory have traditionally been the main technical tools in philosophy of science. | |||||||||
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Similar books and articlesChristopher Menzel (1998). Logical Form. In Edward Craig (ed.), Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Routledge.
Niki Pfeifer & G. D. Kleiter (2007). Human Reasoning with Imprecise Probabilities: Modus Ponens and Denying the Antecedent. In Proceedings of the 5 T H International Symposium on Imprecise Probability: Theories and Applications.
Andrew Chrucky (1998). Teaching Validity with a Stanley Thermos. Philosophy Now 22:22-23.
Agustín Rayo & Timothy Williamson (2003). A Completeness Theorem for Unrestricted First-Order Languages. In Jc Beall (ed.), Liars and Heaps. Oxford University Press.
Paul Oppenheimer & Edward N. Zalta (2011). A Computationally-Discovered Simplification of the Ontological Argument. Australasian Journal of Philosophy 89 (2):333-349.
Dag Prawitz (2006). Meaning Approached Via Proofs. Synthese 148 (3):507 - 524.
Danny Frederick (2011). Deduction and Novelty. The Reasoner 5 (4):56-57.
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