what is argument

 ARGUMENT

Let's look at what argument is all about .

Arguments simply mean disputes, but in logic it means an entirely different thing. it is a " process of constructing a chain of reasoning " . Arguments can be found in both deductive and inductive forms.

The Deductive Form

The deductive arguments begin from the general to the specific. For instance ;

All Teachers are poor .Mr James is a teacher and he cannot afford a meal

George is a teacher , he lives in a shack .

Mrs Michelle has taught for years, she does not own a radio set.

Therefore, no teacher is wealthy.

2: All students belong to one cult group or the other .

Obi , a student at UniLag is in the  scorpion 

Ayo from the University of Ibadan is of the Red Badge.

Okon at the University of Benin belongs to the Masters.

Therefore, all students are all cult members.

In this scnerio if the premises or assertion are acceptable to the reader and are correctly related to the  conclusion, then there is certainty to the argument.

In each example , the first , second or third sentences are the assumptions upon which the conclusion is based . For the argument to be persuasive , the assumptions must be acceptable to the reader . But a reader , who disagrees with any of the premises , will not accept the conclusion.

THE INDUCTIVE FORM

This is the exact opposite of  the deductive form of argument. The argument moves from the specific to the general. This is a  way of reasoning from evidence about a group in order to form a conclusion about the entire group . In order words , movement is form specific to general.

Fact I

Fact II

Fact III

... General that's conclusion

In fact , this is the way we learn most of what we know , based on limited knowledge and experience , we often form conclusions that express what we consider a general truth.

EXAMPLES:

1: At Mercy's wedding i wore a red cap and i was called to the high table .

At Anastesia , i had red cap on, and i got invited to the high table .

Therefore , a red cap makes people respect me.

2:Leo studied Law, his is wealthy

Mathew studied Law too , he owns an estate.

Adekunle studied Law , he a millionaire.

Tesia read Law , she is rolling in money .

Therefore, all those who studied Law , are quiet affluent.

INDUCTIVE REASONING_ This simply states that if two or three things look similar in some respect , they are probably similar in other respects. Because, Tunde, Jeo and Michel's marriages with graduates failed , therefore lady graduates are difficult to live with.

it is enssential to note that conclusions drawn from an inductive reasoning are merely hypothensis or tentative conclusions. The reason is that any counter example invalidates the assertion.

If for instance , we are carrying out a study of some one hundred students who studied Law and we find out that ninety-nine of them are wealthy , and one of them is poor, it will be wrong for us to conclude that all those who studied Law are rich.