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Deductive and Inductive Arguments

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State

A deductive argument claims its conclusion follows necessarily from its premises; an inductive argument claims probable support. The claim, not its success, classifies the argument.

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"Every planet orbits; Mars is a planet; so Mars orbits"—deductive. "The bakery has opened at seven all year; it will tomorrow"—inductive.

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"Deductive" is a category, not a compliment. Each type answers to its own standard.