Socratic Logic - Reasoning

Argument Classification

The following are the notes I have taken from Peter Kreeft's wonderful Socratic Logic textbook. I highly recommend you buy it. This is a book which deals with classical logic (as opposed to modern symbolic logic.) It is easily the best overall book on logic I have ever read and one of the few I have that are worth making notes from. I even have a small duotang with these notes in it I can carry around and reference on a regular basis.

There are six ways an argument can be classified:

A. Inductive / Deductive

B. By form

C. By causality

D. By direction of movement

E. By length

F. By strategy

Inductive Versus Deductive Reasoning

Here are two quick definitions:

1. Induction - Reasoning from particular to general (not totally accurate)

2. Deduction - Reasoning from general to particular

Argument Form

1. Immediate inference: obversion, conversion, contraposition

2. Mediate inference

Argument Causality Types

1. From cause to effect.

2. From effect to cause.

Direction of Argument Movement

1. From premises to conclusion.

2. From conclusion to premises.

Argument Length

1. One-step arguments.

2. Multi-step arguments.

Argument Strategy

(For multiple step arguments)

1. Linear arguments

Starting argument + keep adding other arguments until reach the conclusion.

2. Cumulative arguments

Different arguments with different sub-conclusions to establish a master conclusion.