Argument vs. Thesis — What's the Difference?

In logic and philosophy, an argument is a series of statements (in a natural language), called the premises or premisses (both spellings are acceptable), intended to determine the degree of truth of another statement, the conclusion. The logical form of an argument in a natural language can be represented in a symbolic formal language, and independently of natural language formally defined "arguments" can be made in math and computer science.

A thesis, or dissertation (abbreviated diss.), is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings. In some contexts, the word "thesis" or a cognate is used for part of a bachelor's or master's course, while "dissertation" is normally applied to a doctorate.

An exchange of diverging or opposite views, typically a heated or angry one

A proposition that is maintained by argument.

A reason or set of reasons given in support of an idea, action or theory

A dissertation advancing an original point of view as a result of research, especially as a requirement for an academic degree.

An independent variable associated with a function or proposition and determining its value. For example, in the expression y = F(x₁, x₂), the arguments of the function F are x₁ and x₂, and the value is y.

A hypothetical proposition, especially one put forth without proof.

Any of the noun phrases in a clause that are related directly to the verb, typically the subject, direct object, and indirect object.

The first stage of the Hegelian dialectic process.

A summary of the subject matter of a book.

The long or accented part of a metrical foot, especially in quantitative verse.

A discussion in which the parties involved express disagreement with one another; a debate

The unaccented or short part of a metrical foot, especially in accentual verse.

An angry discussion involving disagreement among the participants; a quarrel

(Music) The accented section of a measure.

(Archaic) A reason or matter for dispute or contention

Senses relating to logic, rhetoric, etc.

A course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating truth or falsehood

(rhetoric) A proposition or statement supported by arguments.

A fact or statement put forth as proof or evidence; a reason

(by extension) A lengthy essay written to establish the validity of a thesis (sense 1.1), especially one submitted in order to complete the requirements for a non-doctoral degree in the US and a doctoral degree in the UK; a dissertation.

A set of statements in which one follows logically as a conclusion from the others.

A conjecture, especially one too vague to be formally stated or verified but useful as a working convention.

A summary or short statement of the plot or subject of a literary work.

(logic) An affirmation, or distinction from a supposition or hypothesis.

A topic; a subject

(philosophy) In the dialectical method of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel: the initial stage of reasoning where a formal statement of a point is developed; this is followed by antithesis and synthesis.

(Logic) The minor premise in a syllogism.

Senses relating to music and prosody.

The independent variable of a function.

The action of lowering the hand or bringing down the foot when indicating a rhythm; hence, an accented part of a measure of music or verse indicated by this action; an ictus, a stress.

The angle of a complex number measured from the positive horizontal axis.

A depression of the voice when pronouncing a syllables of a word; hence, the unstressed part of the metrical foot of a verse upon which such a depression falls, or an unaccented musical note.

(Computers) A value used to evaluate a procedure or subroutine.

A position or proposition which a person advances and offers to maintain, or which is actually maintained by argument.

(Linguistics) A word, phrase, or clause in a semantic relation with a word or phrase and that helps complete the meaning of that word or phrase, such as a noun phrase that is the object of a verb. The clause that we go is an argument of the verb suggest in the sentence I suggest that we go.

Hence, an essay or dissertation written upon specific or definite theme; especially, an essay presented by a candidate for a diploma or degree.

A fact or statement used to support a proposition; a reason.

An affirmation, or distinction from a supposition or hypothesis.

A series of propositions organized so that the final proposition is a conclusion which is intended to follow logically from the preceding propositions, which function as premises.

The accented part of the measure, expressed by the downward beat; - the opposite of arsis.

(countable) A process of reasoning; argumentation.

The depression of the voice in pronouncing the syllables of a word.

(countable) An abstract or summary of the content of a literary work such as a book, a poem or a major section such as a chapter, included in the work before the content itself; (figuratively) the contents themselves.

An unproved statement put forward as a premise in an argument

(countable) A verbal dispute; a quarrel.

A treatise advancing a new point of view resulting from research; usually a requirement for an advanced academic degree

Any dispute, altercation, or collision.

Any of the phrases that bears a syntactic connection to the verb of a clause.

The independent variable of a function.

The phase of a complex number.

A quantity on which the calculation of another quantity depends.

A value, or a reference to a value, passed to a function.

A parameter at a function call; an actual parameter, as opposed to a formal parameter.

A matter in question; a business in hand.

The subject matter of an artistic representation, discourse, or writing; a theme or topic.

Evidence, proof; (countable) an item of such evidence or proof.

To put forward as an argument; to argue.

To adduce evidence, to provide proof.

Proof; evidence.

A reason or reasons offered in proof, to induce belief, or convince the mind; reasoning expressed in words; as, an argument about, concerning, or regarding a proposition, for or in favor of it, or against it.

A process of reasoning, or a controversy made up of rational proofs; argumentation; discussion; disputation.

The subject matter of a discourse, writing, or artistic representation; theme or topic; also, an abstract or summary, as of the contents of a book, chapter, poem.

Matter for question; business in hand.

The quantity on which another quantity in a table depends; as, the altitude is the argument of the refraction.

The independent variable upon whose value that of a function depends.

To make an argument; to argue.

A fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true;

A contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement;

A discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal;

A summary of the subject or plot of a literary work or play or movie;

A variable in a logical or mathematical expression whose value determines the dependent variable; if f(x)=y, x is the independent variable