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Deductive reasoning, also deductive logic or logical deduction or, informally, "top-down" logic,[1] is the process of reasoning from one or more statements (premises) to reach a
logically certain conclusion.[2] It differs from inductive reasoning or abductive reasoning.
Deductive reasoning links premises with conclusions. If all premises are true, the terms are clear, and the rules of deductive logic are followed, then the conclusion reached is necessarily
true.
Deductive reasoning (top-down logic) contrasts with inductive reasoning (bottom-up logic) in the following way: In deductive reasoning, a conclusion is reached reductively by applying
general rules that hold over the entirety of a closed domain of discourse, narrowing the range under consideration until only the conclusion is left. In inductive reasoning, the conclusion is
reached by generalizing or extrapolating from initial information. As a result, induction can be used even in an open domain, one where there is epistemic uncertainty. Note, however, that
the inductive reasoning mentioned here is not the same as induction used in mathematical proofs mathematical induction is actually a form of deductive reasoning.
Contents
1 Simple example
2 Law of detachment
3 Law of syllogism
4 Law of
contrapositive
5 Validity and
soundness
6 History
7 Education
8 See also
9 References
10 Further reading
11 External links
Simple example
An example of a deductive argument:
1. All men are mortal.
2. Socrates is a man.
3. Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
The first premise states that all objects classified as "men" have the attribute "mortal". The second premise states that "Socrates" is classified as a "man" a member of the set "men". The
conclusion then states that "Socrates" must be "mortal" because he inherits this attribute from his classification as a "man".
Law of detachment
The law of detachment (also known as affirming the antecedent and Modus ponens) is the first form of deductive reasoning. A single conditional statement is made, and a hypothesis
(P) is stated. The conclusion (Q) is then deduced from the statement and the hypothesis. The most basic form is listed below:
1. P Q (conditional statement)
2. P (hypothesis stated)
3. Q (conclusion deduced)
In deductive reasoning, we can conclude Q from P by using the law of detachment.[3] However, if the conclusion (Q) is given instead of the hypothesis (P) then there is no definitive
conclusion.
The following is an example of an argument using the law of detachment in the form of an if-then statement:
1. If an angle satisfies 90 < A < 180, then A is an obtuse angle.
2. A = 120.
3. A is an obtuse angle.
Since the measurement of angle A is greater than 90 and less than 180, we can deduce that A is an obtuse angle.
Law of syllogism
The law of syllogism takes two conditional statements and forms a conclusion by combining the hypothesis of one statement with the conclusion of another. Here is the general form:
1. P Q
2. Q R
3. Therefore, P R.
The following is an example:
1. If Larry is sick, then he will be absent.
2. If Larry is absent, then he will miss his classwork.
3. Therefore, if Larry is sick, then he will miss his classwork.
We deduced the final statement by combining the hypothesis of the first statement with the conclusion of the second statement. We also allow that this could be a false statement. This is
an example of the Transitive Property in mathematics. The Transitive Property is sometimes phrased in this form:
1. A = B.
2. B = C.
3. Therefore A = C.
Law of contrapositive
The law of contrapositive states that, in a conditional, if the conclusion is false, then the hypothesis must be false also. The general form is the following:
1. P Q.
2. ~Q.
3. Therefore we can conclude ~P.
The following are examples:
1. If it is raining, then there are clouds in the sky.
2. There are no clouds in the sky.
3. Thus, it is not raining.
History
Aristotle started documenting deductive reasoning in the 4th century BCE.[4]
Education
Deductive reasoning is generally thought of as a skill that develops without any formal teaching or training. As a result of this belief, deductive reasoning skills are not taught in secondary
schools, where students are expected to use reasoning more often and at a higher level.[5] It is in high school, for example, that students have an abrupt introduction to mathematical
proofs which rely heavily on deductive reasoning.[5]
See also
Argument (logic)
Inquiry
Logic
Mathematical induction
Mathematical logic
Inductive reasoning
Abductive reasoning
Inference
Analogical reasoning
Logical consequence
Natural deduction
Defeasible reasoning
Propositional calculus
Decision making
Retroductive reasoning
Decision theory
Scientific method
Fallacy
Theory of justification
Soundness
Geometry
Syllogism
Hypothetico-deductive method
References
1. Deduction & Induction, Research Methods Knowledge Base (http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/dedind.php)
2. Sternberg, R. J. (2009). Cognitive Psychology. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. p. 578. ISBN 978-0-495-50629-4.
3. Guide to Logic (http://www.jgsee.kmutt.ac.th/exell/Logic/Logic12.htm#25)
4. Evans, Jonathan St. B. T.; Newstead, Stephen E.; Byrne, Ruth M. J., eds. (1993). Human Reasoning: The Psychology of Deduction (https://books.google.com/books?id=iFMhZ4dl1KcC) (Reprint ed.).
Psychology Press. p. 4. ISBN 9780863773136. Retrieved 2015-01-26. "In one sense [...] one can see the psychology of deductive reasoning as being as old as the study of logic, which originated in the writings
of Aristotle."
5. Stylianides, G. J.; Stylianides (2008). "A. J.". Mathematical Thinking and Learning 10 (2): 103133. doi:10.1080/10986060701854425 (https://dx.doi.org/10.1080%2F10986060701854425).
Further reading
Vincent F. Hendricks, Thought 2 Talk: A Crash Course in Reflection and Expression, New York: Automatic Press / VIP, 2005, ISBN 87-991013-7-8
Philip Johnson-Laird, Ruth M. J. Byrne, Deduction, Psychology Press 1991, ISBN 978-0-86377-149-1
Zarefsky, David, Argumentation: The Study of Effective Reasoning Parts I and II, The Teaching Company 2002
Bullemore, Thomas, * The Pragmatic Problem of Induction (http://www.academia.edu/4154895/Some_Remarks_on_the_Pragmatic_Problem_of_Induction.html).
External links
Deductive reasoning (http://philpapers.org/browse/deductive-reasoning) at PhilPapers
Deductive reasoning (https://inpho.cogs.indiana.edu/idea/636) at the Indiana Philosophy Ontology Project
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