The Hypothetical Syllogism - Symbolic Logic Lesson: Validity vs Truth/Soundness & If-Then Statements

Описание: The Hypothetical Syllogism is one of five “famous forms” of reasoning in symbolic logic. Hypothetical Syllogisms are deductive argument formulas that help us draw conclusions by linking "if-then" statements (called “conditional statements.”)

I will break down the basic structure of a hypothetical syllogism and explore some examples you’ll encounter in everyday reasoning.

The most important takeaway is this: A Valid Argument Does Not Equal a "Sound" Argument. Please remember that the word “valid” does not mean “true.”

An argument can be logically valid, but untrue. If one of the premises are false, then the argument cannot be deemed “sound.” Sound arguments are both valid in their form, and all the premises are true. So, an unsound argument (one with a false premise), can still be considered logically valid.

By the end of this intro, you’ll have an understanding of how hypothetical syllogisms work and how to recognize when someone is using them correctly.

Have a question or a specific example? Share it in the comments! I will try to help you out.

#logic #philosophy #deductivereasoning