Are Conditional statement Arguments?

Peerhamza · #1 Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Kindly Help me out are conditional or hypothetical statements such if/then arguments?
Copi Cohen Book has used a lot of if/then arguments. While hurley book out rightly don't regard them as argument.

Buddha · #2 Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peerhamza

Kindly Help me out are conditional or hypothetical statements such if/then arguments?
Copi Cohen Book has used a lot of if/then arguments. While hurley book out rightly don't regard them as argument.

There aren't any if/then arguments, there are if/then propositions which are not arguments when they stand alone. They may form arguments (like other propositions) when they are juxtaposed with other propositions. For example,

If P, then Q.
P.
--------------
Therefore, Q.

This is an argument.

Peerhamza · #3 Tuesday, September 30, 2014

I am thankful that you replied. I am not being able to grasp the concept of valid and truth. Like I know that validity is related to arguments, while truth to propositions. But sometimes the situations are really twisted.

1- The premises and the conclusion of an invalid argument can all be true.
2- A valid argument should not be defined as an argument with true premises and a true conclusion.
3- The premises and the conclusion of a valid argument can all be false.
4-A valid argument with false premises can still have a true conclusion.

If there is life on Pluto then Pluto contains water.
But there is no life on Pluto.
Therefore Pluto does not contain water.

How could be this argument invalid?

http://philosophy.hku.hk/think/arg/valid1.php

Buddha · #4 Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peerhamza

I am thankful that you replied. I am not being able to grasp the concept of valid and truth. Like I know that validity is related to arguments, while truth to propositions. But sometimes the situations are really twisted.

1- The premises and the conclusion of an invalid argument can all be true.
2- A valid argument should not be defined as an argument with true premises and a true conclusion.
3- The premises and the conclusion of a valid argument can all be false.
4-A valid argument with false premises can still have a true conclusion.

If there is life on Pluto then Pluto contains water.
But there is no life on Pluto.
Therefore Pluto does not contain water.

How could be this argument invalid?

http://philosophy.hku.hk/think/arg/valid1.php

This argument has a fallacy, denying the antecedent. It has the form

If P, then Q.
Not P.
----------
Not Q.

It is similar to

If Jinnah was murdered, he is dead.
Jinnah was not murdered.
-------------------------
Therefore, Jinnah is not dead.

Well, as you know Jinnah is dead despite the fact he had not been murdered, so denying the antecedent in a conditional statement doesn't make a valid argument. But this is formal logic you should read beginning chapters carefully before doing exercises over internet.

Peerhamza · #5 Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Yup I have just finished first chapter.
The second chapter is Analyzing Arguments
Is it necessary? It has paraphrasing, diagramming arguments.

Buddha · #6 Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peerhamza

Yup I have just finished first chapter.
The second chapter is Analyzing Arguments
Is it necessary? It has paraphrasing, diagramming arguments.

See syllabus and past papers

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