Types of Philosophical Arguments

Arguments are one of the most important forms of persuasion in philosophy. They help to defend a philosopher's claim and sway others to his or her viewpoint. Understanding arguments is essential to either presenting one or listening to one. In philosophy, there are eight major types of arguments and logic must be used to discern under what category an argument falls.

1. The first type of argument is a deductive argument. A deductive argument is an argument in which it is claimed that the conclusion necessarily follows from the premises. Examples of deductive arguments are geometric proofs and other mathematical facts.

2. The next type of argument is an inductive one. An inductive argument is an argument in which it is claimed that the premises make the conclusion highly probable. For instance, pharmaceutical drugs that have been tested extensively may be concluded safe even though there is no guarantee from dangerous side effects that may not have been discovered yet.

3. Next is the valid argument. A valid argument is an argument is which it is impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion false. With a valid argument, if the premises are true, then the conclusion must be true. However, that is not to say that a valid argument will always have true premises. Therefore, there are cases where a valid argument is not always true. However, if the premises are true, this obviously is the best type of argument for it cannot logically be refuted.

4. Then there is the invalid argument. The invalid argument is an argument in which the truth of the conclusion fails to logically follow from the premises. An invalid argument occurs when a valid argument fails. In other words, if an argument cannot be termed valid, it can be called invalid.

5. Another type of argument is a sound argument. A sound argument is a valid argument with true premises. Therefore, a sound argument is a correct one for if it is valid and true, it cannot possibly be wrong. A philosopher who presents a sound argument has presented a true philosophy.

6. There is also a strong argument. A strong argument is an inductive argument in which true premises would make the conclusion highly probable. A strong argument may not necessarily be true. However, it provides enough evidence to back it up that it would obtain a following of supporters.

7.Next, there is a cogent argument. A cogent argument is nothing more than a strong argument that has true premises. It is very similar to a sound argument, for it is a true one as well and cannot be logically refuted. It can be a bit difficult to distinguish between a sound argument and a cogent one. However, the difference is that a sound argument originates from a valid argument in which it is impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion false, whereas a cogent argument originates from a sound argument in which true premises would make the conclusion highly probable.

8. Last, there is what is known as the inference to the best explanation. The inference to the best explanation is a form of reasoning that tries to show that a particular theory is superior to all its competitors and that it is, therefore, the one that is most likely to be true. It is also known as abduction. This is perhaps, the argument used most often by philosophers for many philosophies cannot necessarily be proven beyond a doubt. Therefore showing how one theory is better than another is sometimes the best argument to offer.

These eight types of arguments are used by philosophers when presenting and defending their claims. Understanding them and being able to identify them can help you to support a better philosophy and perhaps even develop your own.