• What is an argument?
• Types of arguments (with examples)

We explain what an argument is and we offer you examples of each type of argument, pointing out the characteristics of each one.

The objective of an argument is to convince the interlocutor or to motivate a certain action in him.

What is an argument?

A plot is a verbal expression of a reasoning or one idea, which seeks to prove, justify or refute a proposition either thesis. Put more simply, it is a reasoning that we use to attack other people's ideas or defend our own in a discussion or negotiation.

The arguments are always formulated as a proposition, and are characterized by necessarily being coherent and consistent, that is, they must make obvious sense and cannot contradict themselves. Its objective is always to convince the interlocutor or to motivate a certain action in him, or to refute a reasoning (and prevent an action), either through the use of reason, or the affectation of the emotions.

For example, arguments are the arguments made by a defense attorney at trial to try to convince the judge and jury that the defendant is not guilty as charged; but also those used by the prosecutor to overthrow the defendant's defense and get him sentenced.

From a logical point of view, all arguments consist of a set of premises that lead to a conclusion determined. Hence, the arguments are classified according to the type of procedure used to reach the conclusion, as follows:

Types of arguments (with examples)

1. Deductive arguments

Deductive arguments are those that use the deduction as a method to obtain their conclusions, going from the general to the particular. For example:

• All humans are mortal. I am a human being. So surely one day I will die.
• If the planets are all round and the Earth is also a planet, surely the Earth is round too.
• All animals breathe and all birds are animals, so all birds necessarily breathe.
• No human has ever set foot on Mars, and Mars is the closest planet to Earth, so no human has ever set foot on an outer planet.

2. Inductive arguments

Inductive arguments are those that use induction as a method to reach their conclusions, going from the particular to the general. For example:

• I am mortal. My parents are mortal. My friends are mortal. Therefore, all human beings are mortal.
• My friend has a FIAT car that runs great. My aunt had a FIAT car which also ran very well. So FIAT cars must work very well.
• When I was in Brazil I ate very good food. When I was in Venezuela I ate very good food. That means that in South America they eat very tasty food.
• Today is Monday and I have no work. The following Monday, either. It is possible that on Mondays he will not work again.

3. Abductive arguments

Abductive arguments are those that use seemingly unrelated premises to establish a probable but unverifiable conclusion. For example:

• Last night it was very hot. Today I woke up with a headache. My headache may be due to the heat last night.
• My mother likes the sea and she is a native of the coast. It is likely that my mother likes the sea for being a native of the coast.
• Things these days are going wrong for me. Mercury is in my sign this month. When the planet changes signs, things will start to go much better for me.
• During the summer there are many fires in this area. Yesterday we heard from the firemen.There must have been a fire in the area.

4. Causal arguments

Causal arguments are those that reach their conclusions from a relationship cause effect between the established premises. For example:

• This summer there was a lot of sun and my plants grew tremendously. Therefore, abundant sun makes my plants grow.
• More and more people are investing in cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin does not stop rising in price. Perhaps bitcoin will rise in price because more and more people are investing in cryptocurrencies.
• The Moon is full tonight, and I have been happier than usual. Therefore, I am happy when the Moon is full.
• There are more people than usual at the train station. It must be a delay on the line.

5. Arguments from authority

Authoritative arguments are those that support their conclusions by going to the prestige or the legitimation of the one who states the premises, that is, going to the authority who states the conclusions. For example:

• The medicine is safe, as certified by the health authorities.
• The atmosphere is heating up, they explain it in prestigious academic journals.
• It's your turn to do the dishes tonight, even if you did it yesterday too. Dad said it was part of your punishment.
• The defendant must be declared innocent, since the judge admitted that there is not enough evidence to convict him.

6. Probabilistic arguments

Probabilistic arguments are those that support their conclusions using statistical or probabilistic criteria, that is, numbers that reflect the possibility that the conclusion is true. For example:

• If we flip a coin, there is a 50% chance that it will come up heads.
• Let's go out with my umbrella, because today there is a 60% chance of drizzle.
• If you don't quit smoking, you have an 80% greater chance of getting lung disease.
• Vote for candidate 1, in the polls they say that he has a 60% chance of winning.

7. Emotional or affective arguments

Emotional or affective arguments are those that reach their conclusions through non-rational premises, but of an emotional or affective type, mobilizing emotions instead of reason. For example:

• Donate money to our cause, the teachers of rural schools in our country will thank you.
• We have to vote for candidate 2, because otherwise our way of life will be threatened.
• We should move, that will make me very happy.
• If we don't take care of these lakes, what will we leave for future generations?

8. Arguments by analogy

The arguments for analogy are those who reach their conclusions by establishing comparisons between different referents. For example:

• We are going to see the new Marvel movie, because we liked the previous movie a lot and probably this one too.
• If my fellow student did not pass the exam, I will have to try even harder.
• I like the clothes in that store, but a friend of mine was treated very badly there, so I'd better shop elsewhere because I don't want to be treated badly too.
• If our cat did not fit in this carrier, much less will our dog, which is larger, fit.