Crafting irrefutable Inductive Arguments: A Step-by-Step Guide

Do you want to write exceptional inductive arguments but have no clue where to start? Generating a well-rounded argument is draining! And more often than not, we give up before we even start.

If you want to write great inductive arguments but have no idea where to start, this guide is for you! 

Let’s go over the nitty-gritty of inductive arguments and how to put them into writing!

What Is an Inductive Argument?

An inductive argument is intended by the arguer to be strong evidence for some conclusion. If the argument’s premises are true and the argument is valid, then we say that the argument is sound. 

If the premises are true, but the argument is invalid, then we say that the argument is unsound. 

Valid Vs. Invalid Inductive Arguments

A valid inductive argument is where all its premises are true. The truth of the conclusion is also necessary. That means for a logically valid inductive argument, the conclusion must be true.

For example, consider the following standard form categorical syllogism: 

Major premise: All men are mortal.

Minor premise: John is a man. 

Therefore: John is mortal. 

An invalid inductive argument is also called a fallacious inductive argument. In an invalid inductive argument, it is possible for all its premises to be true and its conclusion false or vice versa.

For example, consider this less famous syllogism: 

Major premise: All dogs like bones. 

Minor premise: Lassie does not like bones 

Therefore: Lassie is not a dog 

This particular instance of syllogism has false premises, so it also has a false conclusion. However, the syllogism form itself remains valid. It is because if both premises were actually true, then the conclusion would have to be true as well.

What Are The Different Types of Inductive Arguments?

Philosophy classes offer students profound insights into how different thinkers view the world. You might find yourself becoming instantly hooked by the original thoughts of great philosophers.

This blog post will cover three types of inductive arguments you will likely see in your classes: generalizations, causal arguments, and analogies.

Generalizations

A generalization is an inductive argument where you show that something is true for all or most cases. 

For example, let’s say you’ve never seen a dog that didn’t like to play fetch. From this, you might conclude that all dogs like to play fetch. 

Or, let’s say that you’ve only ever seen one person who didn’t like ice cream. From this, you might conclude that most people like ice cream. 

The problem with generalizations is that they can often be false. Just because you’ve never seen a dog that didn’t like to play fetch doesn’t mean that there aren’t any dogs out there who don’t like to play fetch. 

And just because you’ve only seen one person who didn’t like ice cream doesn’t mean other people don’t like ice cream. So, be careful when making generalizations! 

Causal Arguments 

A causal argument is an argument where you are trying to show that one thing caused another thing. 

For example, let’s say that every time it rains, your car gets wet. From this, you might conclude that rain causes cars to get wet. 

Or, let’s say that every time there’s a full moon, people act crazy. You might conclude that the full moon causes people to act crazy. 

The problem with causal arguments is that sometimes two things can happen simultaneously without causing the other. Just because it rains and your car gets wet doesn’t mean that the rain causes your car to get wet. Maybe you left your car windows down! 

And just because there’s a full moon and people act crazy doesn’t mean that the full moon caused people to act crazy. Maybe people just act crazier on weekends! So, be careful when making causal arguments! 

Analogies 

Analogies are inductive arguments where you are trying to show that two things are similar in some way. 

For example, let’s say that both dogs and cats are animals with four legs. From this similarity, you might conclude that dogs and cats are similar in other ways. Maybe they both need to be fed and watered regularly, or maybe they both shed their fur. 

Like generalizations and causation arguments, analogies can also be problematic. Two things can be similar in some way without being similar in other ways. 

Just because dogs and cats are both animals with four legs doesn’t mean they’re exactly alike. So again, be careful when making analogies! 

How to Write a Convincing Inductive Argument?

You’re in class, maybe it’s philosophy or maybe it’s English. Your professor has just assigned you an essay and told you to choose any topic. You have a million ideas in your head but can’t settle on just one. 

Here comes the question: how do you write a strong inductive argument? This is where we jump in to help you. 

Here are some steps on how to write an effective inductive argument.

Step One: Choose a Topic of Your Interest 

The first step in writing an effective inductive argument is to choose a topic. Always go through the assignment requirements and your interests while choosing a topic. 

When choosing a topic for your essay, pick something that contributes to induction. In other words, try to find a topic with many interconnected parts to explore. 

Once you’ve picked your topic, it’s time to move on to step two!

Step Two: Brainstorm Examples 

Next, begin brainstorming examples that support your chosen topic. These examples can be taken from real life or fiction. 

Remember, the more specific your examples are, the more effective they will prove your point. Once you have several examples, it’s time to start putting them into order. 

Step Three: Put It All Together 

Now that your material is gathered, it’s time to start piecing it together into a cohesive argument. To do this, begin by introducing your readers to your chosen topic. 

After the introduction, present your examples and explain how they support your claims about the topic. Finally, finish by summarizing everything and pointing out the implications of what you’ve presented. 

Inductive arguments are all about taking many smaller pieces and fitting them together to form a larger picture. So make sure that’s what your readers see when they finish reading your essay! 

The Benefits of Using Inductive Arguments In Your Writing

An inductive argument can make your argument more compelling. While some people may shy away from using inductive arguments in their writing, there are many benefits to doing so. Here we will explore some of the benefits in detail.

Inductive Arguments Can Be More Convincing than Deductive Arguments

Using induction in your writing can be more convincing than deduction. This is because with a valid deductive argument, if any of the premises are false, the whole argument falls apart. 

However, with induction, even if one of the premises is false, the conclusion may still be likely to be true. 

Inductive Arguments Allow for More Creative Licensing 

Since induction relies on probability rather than certainty, it allows for a more creative license for your argument. 

For example, let’s say you wanted to argue that extraterrestrial life exists. Your argument is based on the fact that billions of stars and planets exist in the universe. It is highly improbable that we are the only form of intelligent life. 

You can be more flexible with interpreting the evidence when using an inductive logic. This means that you don’t have to worry as much about being proven wrong in the above example. 

However, if your argument was deductive, any false claims could negate everything else you’ve said.

Inductive Arguments Are Often More Relevant 

Inductive reasoning leads to conclusions more relevant to our everyday lives than deductive reasoning. This is because induction relies on generalizations that tend to be more applicable to our lives.

For example, let’s say you want to argue that getting a college education is important. You could use induction by citing statistics about how people with college degrees earn more on average than those without them. 

If you want to use deductive reasoning, you would need to find an example where someone without a college degree was unsuccessful.

Inductive Arguments Are Less Harsh 

Inductive arguments tend to be less harsh than deductive ones. They allow for exceptions, whereas deduction does not. 

Today, people quickly judge and condemn others for not meeting certain standards. However, when we use induction, we allow exceptions and realize that no one is perfect. This benefit plays out in real life regarding judging people who use drugs recreationally. 

Inductive Arguments Examples

Below are just a few examples of inductive arguments. Also, check out the pdf sample for making a better understanding. 

• All mammals have fur. 

Cats are mammals. 

Therefore, cats have fur.

• All dogs like to chase cats. 

Fido is a dog. 

Therefore, Fido likes to chase cats.

• Some birds can fly. 

Eagles are birds. 

Therefore, eagles can fly.

• All plants need sunlight to grow. 

Tomatoes are plants. 

Therefore, tomatoes need sunlight to grow.

• The sun has risen every day for the past million years, so that it will rise tomorrow. 
• All the swans I have ever seen have been white, so all swans must be white. 
• Every student who has ever failed my class did not study for the final exam, so if you don’t want to fail, you should study for the final exam. 
• All of the apples in this basket are red, so all apples must be red. 
• My friends who smoke cigarettes always get lung cancer, so if I start smoking cigarettes, I will get lung cancer too. 

So inductive arguments are everywhere, from ads trying to sell us products to politicians trying to win our vote. We need to be able to identify them and understand how they work. 

By following these steps writing an effective inductive argument will be a breeze! Remember to choose a good topic and support your claims with specific examples. With a little effort and practice, you can write a great inductive argument. 

We hope you feel more confident identifying inductive arguments after reading this post! Thanks for stopping by, and Stay tuned for future blogs!

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Identify An Inductive Argument?

An inductive argument is easily identifiable. An inductive argument is an argument where the premises provide evidence for the conclusion. The conclusion of an inductive argument may or may not be true, but it is probable given the evidence provided by the premises.

What is the Induction Argument Problem?

The induction argument problem is a philosophical problem that has to do with our understanding of probability. It’s also sometimes called the fallacy of induction because it’s based on the assumption that if something has happened a certain number of times in the past, it will continue to happen in the future.