Final answer:
A statement has faulty predication when its claim does not logically apply to the subject. Proper understanding of if-then statements, predicate logic, and avoiding logical fallacies like affirming the consequent or circular reasoning are essential for accurate predication.
Step-by-step explanation:
A statement is guilty of faulty predication when it makes a claim that doesn’t logically apply to the subject of the sentence. To avoid faulty predication, we must ensure that the predicate (what is being said about the subject) logically fits the subject.
For example, if we consider an if-then statement such as “If it has snowed more than three inches, then the schools will close,” the statement requires that both conditions logically connect snowfall to school closures. However, an example of faulty predication might occur if we wrongly infer, “If the schools are closed, then it has snowed more than three inches,” because schools could close for other reasons, such as a power outage. This would represent a logical fallacy called affirming the consequent.
When crafting logical if-then statements, it’s vital to distinguish between valid deductions and fallacies. It is also important to avoid circular reasoning, where the conclusion is assumed within the premises, thus begging the question instead of proving it. As such, we have clear examples of what correct predicate logic should look like and how to discern valid reasoning from invalid reasoning.