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Understanding deductive reasoning from "summary" of A Guide to Logical Thinking by William Maurice Shanner
Deductive reasoning is a method of logical thinking that involves drawing specific conclusions from general principles or premises. It is a process of reasoning that moves from the general to the specific, using established rules and principles to reach a logical conclusion. In deductive reasoning, the validity of the conclusion is based on the truth of the premises. If the premises are true and the reasoning is sound, then the conclusion must be true as well. This is what makes deductive reasoning a powerful tool for making logical arguments and drawing definitive conclusions. To understand deductive reasoning, it is important to recognize the structure of a deductive argument. A deductive argument typically consists of a set of premises followed by a conclusion. The premises are statements that provide the basis for the conclusion, while the conclusion is the statement that follows logically from the premises. In deductive reasoning, the premises are assumed to be true, and the reasoning is used to show that the conclusion necessarily follows from the premises. This is what distinguishes deductive reasoning from other forms of reasoning, such as inductive reasoning, which relies on probability rather than certainty. One of the key principles of deductive reasoning is the principle of validity. A deductive argument is considered valid if the conclusion follows logically from the premises, regardless of whether the premises are actually true. In other words, the validity of a deductive argument is determined by its logical structure, rather than the truth of its premises. Another important concept in deductive reasoning is the principle of soundness. A deductive argument is considered sound if it is both valid and based on true premises. Soundness is essential for ensuring that deductive reasoning leads to reliable and trustworthy conclusions.- Understanding deductive reasoning involves grasping the principles of validity and soundness, recognizing the structure of deductive arguments, and being able to follow logical reasoning from general principles to specific conclusions. By mastering the fundamentals of deductive reasoning, one can become a more effective and persuasive logical thinker.
