Premises

Definition

Premises are statements or propositions that provide the basis for an argument's conclusion. They are assumed to be true within the context of the argument and support the logical derivation of the conclusion.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Premises are essential components in a logical argument.
2. A valid argument requires premises that logically lead to a conclusion.
3. Identifying premises is crucial for evaluating the soundness of an argument.
4. Premises can be explicit or implicit within an argument.
5. In formal logic, premises are often represented using symbols and quantifiers.

Review Questions

• What role do premises play in a logical argument?
• How can you identify premises in a given statement?
• Why is it important to evaluate the truthfulness of premises?

Related terms

Conclusion: The statement that logically follows from the premises in an argument.

Argument: A set of statements where some (premises) support another (conclusion).

Quantifier: A symbol used in logic to indicate the scope of terms, such as 'all', 'some', or 'none'.