Question

1. Outline and describe the various types and subtypes of arguments.

2. Define deductive and non-deductive arguments. Which type of argument is stronger and why?

Answer 1

The various types and subtypes of arguments are

The formal logic or the deductive logic is a form of thinking that allows one to deduce its conclusion from its premises. Informal logic is usually called inductive logic. It is a form of reasoning in which if the premises are true, and the logic is good, then the conclusion must be true. For e.g. Premises: Birmingham is a city in the West Midlands.
The West Midlands is a region in England. Conclusion: Therefore Birmingham is a city in England.

  The reasoning based on informal, inductive logic moves from statements of evidence (the premises) to a conclusion that extrapolates from, amplifies, or generalizes the evidence. In this form of reasoning where conclusions are reached by using a few observations to make a generalization. Although the conclusion can be a good one, it is not necessarily so, because not all possible observations can be made. For e.g. for the past 50 years, it has always rained in the first week of April in the Lake District.
Therefore it will rain in the first week of April next year in the Lake District. The conclusion cannot be certain but may be very likely. Thus based on the above explanation the type of argument that is stronger is the deductive argument.