Premise: A statement or proposition that Example: Why do I think you will pass this class? Because you have studied very
supports a conclusion. hard.
Conclusion: A statement or proposition that Example: I have met with hundreds of WGU students, and all of them have been
great. Therefore, all WGU students are great.
is supported by premises.
Example: When you need groceries, you must go to the store. You do need groceries.
Deductive: A type of argument where the As a result, you must go to the store.
support of the premises intends to guarantee
that the conclusion is true.
Example: If you are in D265, then you are a WGU student. You are in D265. Thus, you
Valid: A type of deductive argument such are a WGU student.
that if the premises are (assumed to be)
true, they guarantee that the conclusion is
also true.
Example: All mice eat grain. My grain stores have been eaten. Thus, a mouse must
Invalid: A type of deductive argument such have eaten my grain.
that if the premises are (assumed to be)
true, they do not guarantee that the
conclusion is also true.
Example: Jeremy has been very unreliable at work for the last few years. So, he will
Inductive: A type of argument where the probably be unreliable next year as well.
support of the premises only intends to
prove that the conclusion is probably or
likely true.
Example: I have a PhD in philosophy and have been teaching it for years. My 10
colleagues also have PhDs in philosophy and lots of teaching experience. We all agree
Strong: A type of inductive argument such that D265 is a great class. So, it is likely a great class.
that if the premises are (assumed to be true)
they prove that the conclusion is probably or
likely true, although not guaranteed.
Example: I have purchased two croissants from that bakery. Both were underdone.
Weak: A type of inductive argument such Therefore, all their pastries are always underdone.
that if the premises are (assumed to be true)
they do not prove that the conclusion is
probably or likely true.
Example: Michael thinks that Laura isn't very nice. For the last few months, Laura has
gone out of her way to be polite, friendly and upbeat around Brian. But today Laura is
Confirmation Bias: When someone is too in a bad mood. Michael ignores the past few months and concludes that Laura really
quick to accept a piece of evidence only isn't very nice, after all.
because it fits with what they already
believe. Alternatively, when someone
refuses to accept a piece of evidence only
because it does not fit with what they
already believe.
Example: Sarah is trying to figure out her major at WGU. To help decide, her program
Availability Bias: When someone decides mentor asks what Sarah is interested in. The first thing that comes to mind is scuba
based on the first thing that comes to mind diving and basket-making. Sarah concludes that she should major in underwater
(what is readily available to their brain). basket weaving.
Example: Myriam is an instructor at WGU, and talks to students from all over the
country. Myriam wonders which sports team the typical WGU student roots for. To find
Selection Bias: When the sample group of out, Myriam sends a survey to every WGU student from the state of Texas. After
study, opinion poll or other piece of research analyzing the data, Myriam concludes that the typical WGU student supports the Dallas
does not accurately represent the target Cowboys.
group. Typically, this is because the sample
group is either too small or not
representative of the whole (target) group in
some important way or both.
Example: Courtney travels by airplane a lot for work, so she knows that turbulence is
Alief: An instinctual response to a situation generally not a dangerous threat. However, whenever a flight gets rocky, she starts
that conflicts with one or more of your sweating and her heartrate goes up.
beliefs.
supports a conclusion. hard.
Conclusion: A statement or proposition that Example: I have met with hundreds of WGU students, and all of them have been
great. Therefore, all WGU students are great.
is supported by premises.
Example: When you need groceries, you must go to the store. You do need groceries.
Deductive: A type of argument where the As a result, you must go to the store.
support of the premises intends to guarantee
that the conclusion is true.
Example: If you are in D265, then you are a WGU student. You are in D265. Thus, you
Valid: A type of deductive argument such are a WGU student.
that if the premises are (assumed to be)
true, they guarantee that the conclusion is
also true.
Example: All mice eat grain. My grain stores have been eaten. Thus, a mouse must
Invalid: A type of deductive argument such have eaten my grain.
that if the premises are (assumed to be)
true, they do not guarantee that the
conclusion is also true.
Example: Jeremy has been very unreliable at work for the last few years. So, he will
Inductive: A type of argument where the probably be unreliable next year as well.
support of the premises only intends to
prove that the conclusion is probably or
likely true.
Example: I have a PhD in philosophy and have been teaching it for years. My 10
colleagues also have PhDs in philosophy and lots of teaching experience. We all agree
Strong: A type of inductive argument such that D265 is a great class. So, it is likely a great class.
that if the premises are (assumed to be true)
they prove that the conclusion is probably or
likely true, although not guaranteed.
Example: I have purchased two croissants from that bakery. Both were underdone.
Weak: A type of inductive argument such Therefore, all their pastries are always underdone.
that if the premises are (assumed to be true)
they do not prove that the conclusion is
probably or likely true.
Example: Michael thinks that Laura isn't very nice. For the last few months, Laura has
gone out of her way to be polite, friendly and upbeat around Brian. But today Laura is
Confirmation Bias: When someone is too in a bad mood. Michael ignores the past few months and concludes that Laura really
quick to accept a piece of evidence only isn't very nice, after all.
because it fits with what they already
believe. Alternatively, when someone
refuses to accept a piece of evidence only
because it does not fit with what they
already believe.
Example: Sarah is trying to figure out her major at WGU. To help decide, her program
Availability Bias: When someone decides mentor asks what Sarah is interested in. The first thing that comes to mind is scuba
based on the first thing that comes to mind diving and basket-making. Sarah concludes that she should major in underwater
(what is readily available to their brain). basket weaving.
Example: Myriam is an instructor at WGU, and talks to students from all over the
country. Myriam wonders which sports team the typical WGU student roots for. To find
Selection Bias: When the sample group of out, Myriam sends a survey to every WGU student from the state of Texas. After
study, opinion poll or other piece of research analyzing the data, Myriam concludes that the typical WGU student supports the Dallas
does not accurately represent the target Cowboys.
group. Typically, this is because the sample
group is either too small or not
representative of the whole (target) group in
some important way or both.
Example: Courtney travels by airplane a lot for work, so she knows that turbulence is
Alief: An instinctual response to a situation generally not a dangerous threat. However, whenever a flight gets rocky, she starts
that conflicts with one or more of your sweating and her heartrate goes up.
beliefs.
