deductive reasoning

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Noun1.deductive reasoning - reasoning from the general to the particular (or from cause to effect)
abstract thought, logical thinking, reasoning - thinking that is coherent and logical
syllogism - deductive reasoning in which a conclusion is derived from two premises
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References in periodicals archive ?
The deductive argument for MC, like the historical (inductive) argument, contains some truth but makes unjustifiable conclusions based on that truth.
Fallacies can have weak inductive argument forms or invalid deductive argument forms, but may also be found in arguments that are not cogent or not sound.
Certain inferences involving informational modal operators and indicative conditionals suggest that truth preservation and good deductive argument come apart.
The same textbook in our sample, which gave the approximation in Figure 1 also presented a simple deductive argument to show that the area of a circle is approximately 3[r.sup.2].
This method of using deductive argument for the expositions of philosophical problems was adopted formally by the Sa kya pa and Ge lugs pa schools.
There are only two reasons a deductive argument is considered inadequate: if its premises are false or its method of proof is incorrect (invalid).
He does not explain what, exactly, deduction is, but we may say that a valid deductive argument is an argument in which the premises entail the conclusion: If the premises are true, then the conclusion must be true.
It constitutes one of the two forms of "deductive argument" (syllogistikos logos), that is to say, argument in which conclusions follow necessarily from premises.
Hume is said to agree with Descartes and Locke that demonstration is not the same as valid deductive argument. Owen judges it anachronistic to interpret Hume's theory of demonstration through the notion of deductive validity (86-103, 107).
The book's flaws consist primarily of an inductive rather than deductive argument about nurturing, faith, and a rather startling lack of detail in its citations.