Érv

Érv is a Hungarian noun meaning a reason, argument, or justification offered to support a claim. In ordinary speech, érvek are the grounds for belief or action, while érvelés refers to the activity of arguing. In logic and philosophy, an érv is a set of statements intended to establish a conclusion.

Arguments are commonly categorized by form. Deductive arguments aim for conclusions that follow necessarily from the premises; if the argument is valid and the premises are true, it is sound. Inductive arguments aim for conclusions that are probable rather than certain, with strength depending on the support provided by the premises. Other forms include causal arguments, analogical arguments, and moral or normative arguments, which justify conclusions about causes, similarities, or values.

A good érv relies on relevant and adequate premises, clear reasoning, and transparent steps from premises to conclusion. Common weaknesses include logical fallacies, non sequiturs (conclusions that do not follow), circular reasoning, and ad hominem or other bias-influenced premises. In academic contexts, the strength of an érv is often evaluated by coherence, evidence, and how well it anticipates counterarguments.

Usage spans philosophy, rhetoric, law, and everyday discourse. In Hungarian legal and political writing, for example, courts and legislators present érvek (grounds or arguments) to justify decisions or positions. The term is closely related to érvelés (the act of arguing) and érvekkel (with arguments). While the word is language-specific, the general idea of providing grounds to justify a claim is universal across scholarly and public debate.