Smoking gun

You do not have to be Sherlock Holmes to find killer arguments. Simply deduct.

General remarks are wobbly. We often come across speeches and debates that lack sound reasoning. You have learned about an argument’s anatomy in a previous posts, and now it is time to look at the different types. Examples of deductions are an enthymeme, syllogism or argumentum ad veritatem, which are latin terms still relevant in modern days. They all follow the logic that if a = b and b = c, then a = c.

How to reason deductively

1. Start with a first premise.
   (e.g. In Belgium, it rains 190 days per year.)

2. State a second premise and link it to the conclusion.
   (e.g. When it rains, you need an umbrella.)

3. Link the first premise to the conclusion.
   (e.g. When you are in Belgium, you need an umbrella every second day.)

Exercise

Smoking kills but what about e-cigarettes? An increasing number of countries is tightening regulations for e-cigarettes. Write down one deductive argument for and one against banning vaping. List at least two premises for each conclusion to strengthen your argument.

Learn the techniques. Boost your confidence. Make your point.
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