In
logic, the term describing an
inductive argument that meets one of the following criteria:
- The argument is weak, but the premises and conclusion are true. For example: All men have lungs. Therefore, probably most men stand upright.
- The argument is weak, and the premises are true, but the conclusion is false. For example: All men have lungs. Therefore, probably all men breathe methane.
- The argument is strong, and the conclusion is true, but the premises are false. For example: All physicists have known about quantum mechanics. Therefore, future physicists will probably know about quantum mechanics.
- The argument is weak, and the conclusion is true, but the premises are false. For example: All people in Rome speak Latin. Therefore, probably the people in Greece speak Greek.
- The argument is strong, but the premises and the conclusion are false. For example: Nine out of ten men are ambidextrous. Therefore, if you are male then you are probably ambidextrous.
- The argument is weak, and the premises and the conclusion are false. For example: All men are left-handed. Therefore, your daughter is probably left-handed. (this is assuming that either you have no daughter or that your daughter is not left-handed)
Contrast with cogent.