Deductive Reasoning

What Makes an Argument Logically Valid and Structurally Sound?

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What Makes an Argument Logically Valid and Structurally Sound?

Imagine someone gives you an argument that sounds perfectly confident: “All professional athletes exercise regularly. Maya exercises regularly. Therefore, Maya is a professional athlete.” At first glance, the reasoning may seem reasonable. The statements are connected, and the conclusion sounds possible. But logically, something has gone wrong. Plenty of people exercise regularly without being professional … Read more

Basic Principles of Logic for Critical Thinking Explained

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Basic Principles of Logic for Critical Thinking Explained

Logic can sound intimidating. The word may bring to mind complicated symbols, mathematical formulas, or philosophy classes filled with strange diagrams. In reality, however, we use logic almost every day without consciously thinking about it. Whenever you compare two options, decide whether someone’s explanation makes sense, evaluate an online claim, or figure out what probably … Read more