JARGUE, ED MICHAEL A.

BSED-1B SOCIAL STUDIES

SYMBOLIC ARGUMENTS

Learning outcomes:

 Discuss what is symbolic argument

 Discuss the conditions to determine whether the argument is valid or invalid

An argument consists of a set of statements called premises and another statement called the
conclusion. Example. The set of statements below is an example of an argument.

If I am going to join the basketball try-out, then I will buy a new pair of shoes. I will join the try-out.
Therefore, I will buy a new pair shoes.

The above argument consists of two premises and a conclusion. Usually, the premises and conclusion
are written in the following manner.

First Premise: If I am going to join the basketball try-out, then I will buy a new pair of shoes.

Second Premise: I will join the try-out.

Conclusion: Therefore, I will buy a new pair shoes.

In writing an argument in symbolic form, each simple statement in the argument must be
represented by a variable, usually by lower case letters in the English alphabet. For instance, consider
the argument above. Let the following notations corresponds to each simple statement of the above
argument.

x : I am going to join the basketball try-out

y: I will buy a new pair of shoes.

Then the argument can be written in the following form:

x→y
x
•°• y
 An argument is valid if the conclusion is true whenever all the premises are assumed to be true. An
argument is invalid if it is not a valid argument.

Example. Determine whether the given argument is valid or invalid.

If Rea does not have a quarantine pass, she will stay at home. She did not stay at home. Therefore, she
has a quarantine pass.
Solution. First, write the argument in symbolic form. If x and y denotes the following simple
statements.

x : Rea has a quarantine pass.

y : Rea will stay at home

Then the symbolic form of the argument can be written as:

∼x→y
∼y
•°• y
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