Which of the following is true regarding an inductive argument?
2022
Which of the following is true regarding an inductive argument?
Answer: B. It claims to support its conclusion only with some degree of probability — ConceptAn inductive argument is ampliative: its premises are intended to make the conclusion probable, not logically necessary. Even when its premises are…
- A.
If all the premises are true, the conclusion must be true.
- B.
It claims to support its conclusion only with some degree of probability
- C.
It claims to support its conclusion conclusively
- D.
Conclusion is completely contained already in the premises
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Concept
An inductive argument is ampliative: its premises are intended to make the conclusion probable, not logically necessary. Even when its premises are true, its conclusion may still be false without a contradiction.
Application
The statement about supporting a conclusion with some degree of probability expresses this defining feature. The strength of such an argument is evaluated in degrees, such as stronger or weaker support, rather than by deductive validity alone.
Contrast
If true premises make a conclusion necessarily true, the relation is deductive entailment.
Conclusive support also describes deductive necessity rather than probabilistic support.
A conclusion already contained in the premises is non-ampliative and is associated with deduction.
Result
Therefore, an inductive argument claims only probabilistic support for its conclusion.