Definition:Argument Form

Definition

An argument form is a collation of symbols which contains statement variables such that:

when statements are used to replace statement variables (the same statement replacing the same statement variable throughout), the result is a logical argument.

Specific Form

The specific form of a given logical argument is that argument form from which the logical argument results from replacing each distinct statement variable by a different simple statement.

Also known as

An argument form is also known as a logical form by some writers, but the latter term is imprecise and is also found to mean statement form.

Sources

• 1959: A.H. Basson and D.J. O'Connor: Introduction to Symbolic Logic (3rd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text I$ Introductory: $2$. The Use of Symbols
• 1965: E.J. Lemmon: Beginning Logic ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$: The Propositional Calculus $1$: $1$ The Nature of Logic
• 1973: Irving M. Copi: Symbolic Logic (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $2$ Arguments Containing Compound Statements: $2$ Arguments Containing Compound Statements: $2.3$: Argument Forms and Truth Tables