Question

Distinguishing Deductive and Inductive Reasoning

Some of the following passages are best viewed as attempted deductive arguments, and others are best viewed as offering inductive support. For each, first identify the conclusion of the argument. Next, indicate whether the argument is best understood as deductive or inductive, and explain reasons for your choice.

Kawolski will not play for the Tigers this year, and if you won’t play for the Tigers, he will take a pay cut. Therefore, he will be taking a pay cut.

Manny is older than Rosie, and Rosie is older than Trisha. Therefore, Manny is older than Trisha.

Brenda is going to the office with Desi, so she will not be going to the office by herself.

Every restaurant the Montreaux family has opened in the last six years has made a profit, and they have a new one opening in a few weeks. I am sure this new restaurant will be profitable too.

If you are regularly late to work, you’re more likely to be written up, and the more likely you are to be written up, the more likely you are to be laid off first. So if you are regularly late to work, you are more likely to be laid off first.

Most people who seek a career in the theater are extroverts. Tom is seeking a career in the theater, so he is probably an extrovert.

After the meeting, only two of the nine board members said that they would vote yes on Measure R next week. Since a yes vote from a majority of members is needed, I think it is safe to say the measure will not pass.

Since there are more members of the U.S. House of Representatives than there are days in the year, some members must have birthdays on the same date.

Some cats are mouse haters, and no mouse hater is afraid of the dark, so some cats are not afraid of the dark.

All club members are eligible to vote, since all club members are residents and all residents are eligible to vote.

Answer 1

• Inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning are opposite to each other.
• Inductive reasoning- When we move from the specific argument to general argument, it is called inductive reasoning. It is referred as bottom- up logic. For example- John is man, All men are intelligent, therefore John is intelligent.
• Deductive reasoning- When we move from the general argument to specific argument, it is called deductive reasoning. It is also referred as top-down logic. For example- All men are strong, John is a Man so John is also strong.
• "Kawolski will not play for the Tigers this year, and if you won’t play for the Tigers, he will take a pay cut. Therefore, he will be taking a pay cut."- the conclusion of this statement is Kawolski will be taking a pay cut and this sentence starts from the specific statement and conclusion is general therefore it is the example of inductive reasoning.
• "Manny is older than Rosie, and Rosie is older than Trisha. Therefore, Manny is older than Trisha."- conclusion- Manny is older than Trisha. Reasoning- specific to general, so inductive reasoning.

• "Brenda is going to the office with Desi, so she will not be going to the office by herself."- conclusion- Brenda will not be going to the office by herself. Reasoning- general to specific, so deductive reasoning.

• "Every restaurant the Montreaux family has opened in the last six years has made a profit, and they have a new one opening in a few weeks. I am sure this new restaurant will be profitable too." conclusion- The new restaurant will be profitable. Reasoning- general to specific, so deductive reasoning.

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