A sense of revision is in the air: Terms used in logic

Question Three: Define and briefly discuss the following terms as used in logic.

a) Axiom

This term comes from Geometry and it represents a starting point of absolute solidity and truth. Aristotle uses it as his beginning statement, that cannot be argued with, in his syllogistic or deductive logic. Depressing as it may seem to dwell on it for too long, perhaps the one thing we can be sure of in life is that we will die, and so famously:

All men are mortal (an axiomatic statement)
Socrates is a man
Therefore: Socrates is mortal

b) A priori

This is the concept of being born with knowledge or innate ideas, knowledge without experience. The empiricists oppose this idea, in particular Hume and Locke. John Locke believed that people are born with a blank slate or a tabula rasa and that knowledge is ONLY gained through experience in the physical world.

A priori logic is also completely independent of experience, certain conclusions can be reached without experience, for example all widows have dead husbands and all bachelors are unmarried.

Descartes said 'I think therefor I am'.

c) A Posteriori

This, as can be established from the name, is the direct opposite if a priori. All conclusions must be reached through some sort of experience for example some widows are devastated and some bachelors are incredible lonely.

d) Deduction

Deductive logic is largely concerning the process of going back to the original axiomatic information, for example its not an apple tree its a tree, or we know its a tricycle because it has three wheels (if it had two wheels it would be a bicycle). Once again Aristotle deductive logic comes into place here.

e) Induction or Synthesis

Induction is about adding facts and data to reach a legitimate or at least plausible conclusion, it is used all the time in science. For example saying that caffine is bad for you, carrots are good for your eyesite or eating after 8pm makes you fat is not enough without the induction of data, it requires the addition of data to calculate the odds. Hume: saying that the sun sets this evening means it will rise tomorrow requires scientific inductive reasoning.

Remember the Thesis, Anti These and Synthesis as well.