Inference objection

In informal logic, an inference objection is an objection to an argument based not on any of its stated premises, but rather on the relationship between premise and contention. For a given simple argument, if the assumption is made that its premises are correct, fault may be found in the progression from these to the conclusion of the argument. This can often take the form of an unstated co-premise, as in Begging the question. In other words, it may be necessary to make an assumption in order to conclude anything from a set of true statements. This assumption must also be true in order that the conclusion follow logically from the initial statements.

Example
An example of an inference objection based on NASA's Stardust Mission.[1]
The same argument with the originally unstated co-premise included.

In the example to the left, the objector can't find anything contentious in the stated premises of the argument supporting the conclusion that "There is no danger in NASA's Stardust Mission bringing material from the Wild 2 comet back to Earth", but still disagrees with the conclusion. The objection is therefore placed beside the main premise and exactly corresponds to an unstated or 'hidden' co-premise. This is demonstrated by the argument map to the right in which the full pattern of reasoning relating to the contention is set out.

gollark: <@404656680496791554> Checking mod page...
gollark: Constantly running spatial IO does that to you.
gollark: Obviously.
gollark: You use 1MRF/t for powering electromagnets of another 5MRF/t of generators, obviously.
gollark: I automated the walls, at least, that was convenient.

See also

References
  1. "Doom in the sky? - 24 January 2004 - New Scientist". Retrieved Jul 24, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.