ARGUMENT

In Astronomy, denotes the angle or quantity on which a series of numbers in a table depends. For example, suppose a table were formed showing the amount of horizontal refraction at every degree, ., of altitude; then the altitude would be termed the argument of the refraction; and the table is said to be entered with the argument. Argument. In Logic, an expre ion in which, from something laid down as granted, {i.e. the premises,) something else (?. e. the conclusion,) is to be deduced. In ordinary discourse, argument is very often used for the premises alone, in contradistinction to the conclusion; e.g. "the conclusion which this argument is intended to establish, is, . ." This word is also sometimes employed to denote what is, strictly speaking, a course or series of arguments: it is in this sense that we speak of " War burton's argument to prove the divine legation of Moses." The word argument is frequently ARIANS. used to expre what may be properly called a disputation: i. e. two trains of argument opposed to each other, as when it is said that A and B had a long ' argument on any sulyect, and that A had the best of the argument. (Vide Whately's Logic, p. 300.) [s. 98]