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Chapter 01
Basic Concepts
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Logic is the study of
A. the way people reason.
B. methods for evaluating arguments.
C. techniques for winning arguments.
D. ways to represent English statements in symbols.
A. the way people reason.
B. methods for evaluating arguments.
C. techniques for winning arguments.
D. ways to represent English statements in symbols.
Subject area: Chapter 1, Basic Concepts
2. As understood by logicians, an argument
is
A. a set of statements, one of which is supported by the others.
B. a verbal dispute between two or more people.
C. a major contributing factor to the high rate of divorce in the United States.
D. a sentence that is either true or false.
A. a set of statements, one of which is supported by the others.
B. a verbal dispute between two or more people.
C. a major contributing factor to the high rate of divorce in the United States.
D. a sentence that is either true or false.
Subject area: Chapter 1, Basic Concepts
3. The primary purpose(s) of argument is(are)
A. to persuade others to share our views.
B. to discover the truth about something.
C. to intimidate one's opponent.
D. both to persuade others to share our views, and to discover the truth about something.
A. to persuade others to share our views.
B. to discover the truth about something.
C. to intimidate one's opponent.
D. both to persuade others to share our views, and to discover the truth about something.
Subject area: Chapter 1, Basic Concepts
4. A sound argument is one that is valid
and
A. has a true conclusion.
B. has at least one true premise.
C. has all true premises.
D. is accepted by most people.
A. has a true conclusion.
B. has at least one true premise.
C. has all true premises.
D. is accepted by most people.
Subject area: 1.1 Validity and Soundness
5. A term is
A. a 15-week semester of college.
B. a word or phrase that stands for a class.
C. a length of time in public office.
D. a pattern of reasoning.
A. a 15-week semester of college.
B. a word or phrase that stands for a class.
C. a length of time in public office.
D. a pattern of reasoning.
Subject area: 1.2 and 1.3 Forms, Validity, and Counterexamples
6. A counterexample to an argument form is a
substitution instance whose
A. premises and conclusion are well-known truths.
B. premises are well-known falsehoods.
C. premises are well-known truths and conclusion a well-known falsehood.
D. conclusion is a well-known falsehood.
A. premises and conclusion are well-known truths.
B. premises are well-known falsehoods.
C. premises are well-known truths and conclusion a well-known falsehood.
D. conclusion is a well-known falsehood.
Subject area: 1.2 and 1.3 Forms, Validity, and Counterexamples
7. The statement "Pat is a mother only if Pat is
a woman" is a stylistic variant of which type of statement?
A. disjunction
B. conditional
C. negation
D. conjunction
A. disjunction
B. conditional
C. negation
D. conjunction
Subject area: 1.3 Some "Famous Forms"
8. Which of the following argument forms is not
valid?
A. modus tollens
B. hypothetical syllogism
C. affirming the consequent
D. disjunctive syllogism
A. modus tollens
B. hypothetical syllogism
C. affirming the consequent
D. disjunctive syllogism
Subject area: 1.3 Some "Famous Forms"
9. The fallacy of affirming the consequent has the
following form:
A. If A, then B; Not A; So, not B.
B. If A, then B; Not B; So, not A.
C. If A, then B; A; So, B.
D. If A, then B; B; So, A.
A. If A, then B; Not A; So, not B.
B. If A, then B; Not B; So, not A.
C. If A, then B; A; So, B.
D. If A, then B; B; So, A.
Subject area: 1.3 Some "Famous Forms"
10. A disjunctive syllogism has the
following form:
A. Either A or B; Not A; So, B.
B. If A, then C; If B, then D; Either A or B; So, either C or D.
C. If A, then B; If B, then C; So, if A, then C.
D. Either A or B; A; So, not B.
A. Either A or B; Not A; So, B.
B. If A, then C; If B, then D; Either A or B; So, either C or D.
C. If A, then B; If B, then C; So, if A, then C.
D. Either A or B; A; So, not B.
Subject area: 1.3 Some "Famous Forms"
11. If an argument is strong, then
A. its premises are all true.
B. it is improbable (but possible) that the conclusion is false on the assumption that the premises are true.
C. it is impossible for the conclusion to be false on the assumption that the premises are true.
D. the conclusion is true.
A. its premises are all true.
B. it is improbable (but possible) that the conclusion is false on the assumption that the premises are true.
C. it is impossible for the conclusion to be false on the assumption that the premises are true.
D. the conclusion is true.
Subject area: 1.4 Strength and Cogency
12. Inductive logic is concerned with
methods of evaluating arguments for
A. strength and weakness.
B. cogency and uncogency.
C. validity and invalidity.
D. soundness and unsoundness.
A. strength and weakness.
B. cogency and uncogency.
C. validity and invalidity.
D. soundness and unsoundness.
Subject area: 1.4 Strength and Cogency
13. "Davy Crockett was executed by Santa
Ana." This is
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
Subject area: Recognizing statements
14. "The moon is made of bleu cheese." This
is
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
Subject area: Recognizing statements
15. "Will Jean will the election?" This
is
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
Subject area: Recognizing statements
16. "Let's go home now." This is
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
Subject area: Recognizing statements
17. "Buttercup is a yellow parakeet." This
is
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
Subject area: Recognizing statements
18. "Pigs can fly." This is
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
Subject area: Recognizing statements
19. "Eat your vegetables." This is
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
Subject area: Recognizing statements
20. Identify the following as valid, invalid, strong,
or weak: "All men are mortal. Socrates is mortal. \ Socrates is a man."
A. valid
B. invalid
C. strong
D. weak
A. valid
B. invalid
C. strong
D. weak
Subject area: Validity and strength
21. Identify the following as valid, invalid, strong,
or weak: "No one has ever run a three-minute mile. \ No one ever
will."
A. valid
B. invalid
C. strong
D. weak
A. valid
B. invalid
C. strong
D. weak
Subject area: Validity and strength
22. Identify the following as valid, invalid, strong,
or weak: "If Pete passes the class, then so will Sharon. But, Pete didn't
pass the class. \ Sharon did not pass the class."
A. valid
B. invalid
C. strong
D. weak
A. valid
B. invalid
C. strong
D. weak
Subject area: Validity and strength
23. Identify the following as valid, invalid, strong,
or weak: "Approximately 43 percent of pet owners in America own a dog. Ron
is a pet owner, so he must have a dog."
A. valid
B. invalid
C. strong
D. weak
A. valid
B. invalid
C. strong
D. weak
Subject area: Validity and strength
24. Identify the following as valid, invalid, strong,
or weak: "Either Williams will win the election or Jarboe will win it. If
Williams wins the election, then recycling will become mandatory. If Jarboe
wins the election, then universal garbage collection will become mandatory. So,
either recycling or universal garbage collection will become
mandatory."
A. valid
B. invalid
C. strong
D. weak
A. valid
B. invalid
C. strong
D. weak
Subject area: Validity and strength
25. Which of the following is a statement?
A. "Close the door."
B. "Let's have lunch."
C. "I'm not hungry."
D. "What did you say?"
A. "Close the door."
B. "Let's have lunch."
C. "I'm not hungry."
D. "What did you say?"
Subject area: Chapter 1, Basic Concepts
26. A premise of an argument is
A. a statement intended to provide support for another statement.
B. an underlying assumption.
C. the statement that is being affirmed on the basis of others.
D. a word or phrase whose purpose is to persuade.
A. a statement intended to provide support for another statement.
B. an underlying assumption.
C. the statement that is being affirmed on the basis of others.
D. a word or phrase whose purpose is to persuade.
Subject area: Chapter 1, Basic Concepts
27. The main feature of a valid argument
is
A. it is possible for the conclusion to be true.
B. it is not necessary that if the premises are true, then the conclusion is true.
C. it is necessary that if the premises are true, then the conclusion is true.
D. it is not possible for the conclusion to be false.
A. it is possible for the conclusion to be true.
B. it is not necessary that if the premises are true, then the conclusion is true.
C. it is necessary that if the premises are true, then the conclusion is true.
D. it is not possible for the conclusion to be false.
Subject area: 1.1 Validity and Soundness
28. An argument form is
A. a word or phrase that stands for a class.
B. a pattern of reasoning.
C. a statement that is used as a premise.
D. a worksheet for identifying the premises and conclusion of an argument.
A. a word or phrase that stands for a class.
B. a pattern of reasoning.
C. a statement that is used as a premise.
D. a worksheet for identifying the premises and conclusion of an argument.
Subject area: 1.2 and 1.3 Forms, Validity, and Counterexamples
29. Which of the following is a substitution instance
of the argument form "All A are B; No B are C; So, no A are C"?
A. All fish are dogs; No dogs are mammals; So, no fish are mammals.
B. All mammals are dogs; No mammals are fish; So, no fish are dogs.
C. All dogs are fish; No dogs are mammals; So, no fish are mammals.
D. All dogs are mammals; No fish are mammals; So, no dogs are fish.
A. All fish are dogs; No dogs are mammals; So, no fish are mammals.
B. All mammals are dogs; No mammals are fish; So, no fish are dogs.
C. All dogs are fish; No dogs are mammals; So, no fish are mammals.
D. All dogs are mammals; No fish are mammals; So, no dogs are fish.
Subject area: 1.2 and 1.3 Forms, Validity, and Counterexamples
30. Which of the following is an example of a conditional
statement?
A. Either Bob or Jim will ask Mary to the dance.
B. All whales are mammals.
C. It's not the case that Sue loves Bill.
D. If Pamela loves Joe, then Joe loves Pamela.
A. Either Bob or Jim will ask Mary to the dance.
B. All whales are mammals.
C. It's not the case that Sue loves Bill.
D. If Pamela loves Joe, then Joe loves Pamela.
Subject area: 1.3 Some "Famous Forms"
31. The argument form "If A then B; Not B; So,
not A" is called
A. modus tollens.
B. constructive dilemma.
C. hypothetical syllogism.
D. modus ponens.
A. modus tollens.
B. constructive dilemma.
C. hypothetical syllogism.
D. modus ponens.
Subject area: 1.3 Some "Famous Forms"
32. The fallacy of denying the
antecedent has the following form:
A. If A, then B; Not A; So, not B.
B. If A, then B; Not B; So, not A.
C. If A, then B; A; So, B.
D. If A, then B; B; So, A.
A. If A, then B; Not A; So, not B.
B. If A, then B; Not B; So, not A.
C. If A, then B; A; So, B.
D. If A, then B; B; So, A.
Subject area: 1.3 Some "Famous Forms"
33. A hypothetical syllogism has the
following form:
A. If A, then B; Not B; So, not A.
B. If A, then B; If B, then C; So, if A, then C.
C. If A, then C; If B, then D; Either A or B; So, either C or D.
D. Either A or B; Not A; So, B.
A. If A, then B; Not B; So, not A.
B. If A, then B; If B, then C; So, if A, then C.
C. If A, then C; If B, then D; Either A or B; So, either C or D.
D. Either A or B; Not A; So, B.
Subject area: 1.3 Some "Famous Forms"
34. When "or" is taken in the exclusive
sense, the statement "We'll go swimming or hiking" says what?
A. We are definitely going swimming.
B. We are definitely going hiking.
C. We'll go swimming or hiking, but not both.
D. We'll go swimming or hiking; maybe both.
A. We are definitely going swimming.
B. We are definitely going hiking.
C. We'll go swimming or hiking, but not both.
D. We'll go swimming or hiking; maybe both.
Subject area: 1.3 Some "Famous Forms"
35. A cogent argument
A. is valid and has all true premises.
B. has all true premises.
C. is strong and has all true premises.
D. cannot have a false conclusion.
A. is valid and has all true premises.
B. has all true premises.
C. is strong and has all true premises.
D. cannot have a false conclusion.
Subject area: 1.4 Strength and Cogency
36. "Don't go in the water." This is
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
Subject area: Recognizing statements
37. "My brother has a cat named Sully." This
is
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
Subject area: Recognizing statements
38. "Go to your room!" This is
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
Subject area: Recognizing statements
39. "Assuming that Peter gets a B on the test,
he'll pass the class." This is
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
Subject area: Recognizing statements
40. "Are we there yet?" This is
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
Subject area: Recognizing statements
41. "You don't have any brothers or sisters, do
you?" This is
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
Subject area: Recognizing statements
42. "The death penalty is morally wrong."
This is
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
Subject area: Recognizing statements
43. "Chocolate ice cream is better than
strawberry." This is
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
A. a statement.
B. not a statement.
Subject area: Recognizing statements
44. Identify the following as valid, invalid, strong,
or weak: "If whales are fish, they are cold-blooded. Whales aren't
cold-blooded. \ Whales are not fish."
A. valid
B. invalid
C. strong
D. weak
A. valid
B. invalid
C. strong
D. weak
Subject area: Validity and strength
45. Identify the following as valid, invalid, strong,
or weak: "60 percent of Volvos ever made are still running. \ My father's Volvo
still runs."
A. valid
B. invalid
C. strong
D. weak
A. valid
B. invalid
C. strong
D. weak
Subject area: Validity and strength
46. Identify the following as valid, invalid, strong,
or weak: "Assuming Betty's flight leaves on time, she will arrive in
Seattle at 6:00 p.m. Betty's flight did leave on time, so she will arrive in
Seattle at 6:00 p.m."
A. valid
B. invalid
C. strong
D. weak
A. valid
B. invalid
C. strong
D. weak
Subject area: Validity and strength
47. Identify the following as valid, invalid, strong,
or weak: "Peter has been at bat two times per game in each of the last ten
games. He struck out every time he was at bat! So, he'll probably strike out
the next time he's at bat."
A. valid
B. invalid
C. strong
D. weak
A. valid
B. invalid
C. strong
D. weak
Subject area: Validity and strength
48. Identify the following as valid, invalid, strong,
or weak: "We can take a vacation in the Bahamas only if we save enough
money. We've saved enough money, so now we can take a vacation in the Bahamas!"
A. valid
B. invalid
C. strong
D. weak
A. valid
B. invalid
C. strong
D. weak
Subject area: Validity and strength
True / False Questions
49. All sentences are statements.
FALSE
FALSE
Subject area: Chapter 1, Basic Concepts
50. An argument is any set of statements.
FALSE
FALSE
Subject area: Chapter 1, Basic Concepts
51. Some arguments are false.
FALSE
FALSE
Subject area: Chapter 1, Basic Concepts
52. All true statements are valid.
FALSE
FALSE
Subject area: Chapter 1, Basic Concepts
53. Every argument intends to guarantee the truth of
its conclusion.
FALSE
FALSE
Subject area: Chapter 1, Basic Concepts
54. All valid arguments have true conclusions.
FALSE
FALSE
Subject area: 1.1 Validity and Soundness
55. All sound arguments are valid.
TRUE
TRUE
Subject area: 1.1 Validity and Soundness
56. Sound arguments can have false conclusions.
FALSE
FALSE
Subject area: 1.1 Validity and Soundness
57. All valid arguments are sound.
FALSE
FALSE
Subject area: 1.1 Validity and Soundness
58. A true conclusion may be validly deduced from
false premises.
TRUE
TRUE
Subject area: 1.1 Validity and Soundness
59. Any argument with a true conclusion is
sound.
FALSE
FALSE
Subject area: 1.1 Validity and Soundness
60. Every argument with a valid form is valid.
TRUE
TRUE
Subject area: 1.2 Forms and Validity
61. The statement "If Archarcharch wins the
Belmont Stakes, then Archarcharch will be a Triple Crown winner" is a
disjunction.
FALSE
FALSE
Subject area: 1.2 Forms and Validity
62. A conditional statement is the same thing as a
hypothetical statement.
TRUE
TRUE
Subject area: 1.2 Forms and Validity
63. When understood in the inclusive sense,
"Either A or B" means "Either A or B (but not both)."
FALSE
FALSE
Subject area: 1.2 Forms and Validity
64. If an argument form is invalid, then so is every
substitution instance of that argument form.
FALSE
FALSE
Subject area: 1.3 Counterexamples and Invalidity
65. Any argument that is a substitution instance of
affirming the consequent is a valid argument.
FALSE
FALSE
Subject area: 1.3 Counterexamples and Invalidity
66. A category statement asserts some relation between
sets or collections of things.
TRUE
TRUE
Subject area: 1.3 Counterexamples and Invalidity
67. All weak arguments have false conclusions.
FALSE
FALSE
Subject area: 1.4 Strength and Cogency
68. No cogent arguments have false premises.
TRUE
TRUE
Subject area: 1.4 Strength and Cogency
69. All weak arguments are uncogent.
TRUE
TRUE
Subject area: 1.4 Strength and Cogency
70. Strong arguments with all true premises are
cogent.
TRUE
TRUE
Subject area: 1.4 Strength and Cogency
71. A statement is either true or false.
TRUE
TRUE
Subject area: Chapter 1, Basic Concepts
72. All arguments have more than one
premise.
FALSE
FALSE
Subject area: Chapter 1, Basic Concepts
73. Commands are not statements.
TRUE
TRUE
Subject area: Chapter 1, Basic Concepts
74. An argument's conclusion is affirmed on the
basis of its premises.
TRUE
TRUE
Subject area: Chapter 1, Basic Concepts
75. Some arguments intend demonstrating their
conclusions to be probably true.
TRUE
TRUE
Subject area: Chapter 1, Basic Concepts
76. All sound arguments have true conclusions.
TRUE
TRUE
Subject area: 1.1 Validity and Soundness
77. No valid arguments have false premises.
FALSE
FALSE
Subject area: 1.1 Validity and Soundness
78. An invalid argument can have false premises and a
true conclusion.
TRUE
TRUE
Subject area: 1.1 Validity and Soundness
79. The conclusion of a valid argument may be
false.
TRUE
TRUE
Subject area: 1.1 Validity and Soundness
80. The conclusion of an unsound argument must be
false.
FALSE
FALSE
Subject area: 1.1 Validity and Soundness
81. More than one argument can have the same
form.
TRUE
TRUE
Subject area: 1.2 Forms and Validity
82. An argument that results from uniformly replacing
letters in an argument form with terms or statements is a substitution instance
of that form.
TRUE
TRUE
Subject area: 1.2 Forms and Validity
83. In "If Suzie goes to the party, then John
will go," the antecedent is "Suzie goes to the party."
TRUE
TRUE
Subject area: 1.2 Forms and Validity
84. The statements comprising an "either-or"
sentence are called disjuncts.
TRUE
TRUE
Subject area: 1.2 Forms and Validity
85. A counterexample proves that an argument form is
invalid.
TRUE
TRUE
Subject area: 1.3 Counterexamples and Invalidity
86. A substitution instance of an argument form may be
valid even if the argument form itself is invalid.
TRUE
TRUE
Subject area: 1.3 Counterexamples and Invalidity
87. A good counterexample employs well-known truths
for its premises and conclusion.
FALSE
FALSE
Subject area: 1.3 Counterexamples and Invalidity
88. A term is a word or phrase that stands for a class
of things.
TRUE
TRUE
Subject area: 1.3 Counterexamples and Invalidity
89. All strong arguments have true conclusions.
FALSE
FALSE
Subject area: 1.4 Strength and Cogency
90. All uncogent arguments are weak.
FALSE
FALSE
Subject area: 1.4 Strength and Cogency
91. No cogent arguments have false conclusions.
FALSE
FALSE
Subject area: 1.4 Strength and Cogency
92. All cogent arguments are strong.
TRUE
TRUE
Subject area: 1.4 Strength and Cogency
Essay Questions
93. Use a counterexample to show that the following
argument is invalid. (Remember, it is usually best to use terms—or
statements—whose interrelations are well known.)
"All people who bite their fingernails in public are neurotic overachievers. Since all neurotic overachievers are philosophers, all philosophers are people who bite their fingernails in public."
"All people who bite their fingernails in public are neurotic overachievers. Since all neurotic overachievers are philosophers, all philosophers are people who bite their fingernails in public."
All collies are dogs. All dogs are mammals. So, all mammals
are collies.
Subject area: Forms and counterexamples
94. Use a counterexample to show that the following
argument is invalid. (Remember, it is usually best to use terms—or
statements—whose interrelations are well known.)
"All business executives are active opponents of increased corporate taxes, for all active opponents of increased corporate taxes are members of the chamber of commerce, and all members of the chamber of commerce are business executives."
"All business executives are active opponents of increased corporate taxes, for all active opponents of increased corporate taxes are members of the chamber of commerce, and all members of the chamber of commerce are business executives."
All collies are dogs. All dogs are mammals. So, all mammals
are collies.
Subject area: Forms and counterexamples
95. Use a counterexample to show that the following
argument is invalid. (Remember, it is usually best to use terms—or
statements—whose interrelations are well known.)
"Some psychological disorders are environmentally produced diseases, since no environmentally produced diseases are inherited afflictions and some psychological disorders are not inherited afflictions."
"Some psychological disorders are environmentally produced diseases, since no environmentally produced diseases are inherited afflictions and some psychological disorders are not inherited afflictions."
No cats are collies. Some dogs are not collies. So, some
dogs are cats.
Subject area: Forms and counterexamples
96. Use a counterexample to show that the following
argument is invalid. (Remember, it is usually best to use terms—or
statements—whose interrelations are well known.)
"Some people who are serious about politics are people who do not vote. All suicide bombers are people who are serious about politics. Therefore, some suicide bombers are people who do not vote."
"Some people who are serious about politics are people who do not vote. All suicide bombers are people who are serious about politics. Therefore, some suicide bombers are people who do not vote."
Some animals are cats. All dogs are animals. So, some dogs
are cats.
Subject area: Forms and counterexamples
97. Use a counterexample to show that the following
argument is invalid. (Remember, it is usually best to use terms—or
statements—whose interrelations are well known.)
"If Bob loves his country, Bob votes. Bob does not vote. It follows that Bob loves his country."
"If Bob loves his country, Bob votes. Bob does not vote. It follows that Bob loves his country."
If Abe Lincoln was over fifteen feet tall, then he was over
ten feet tall. Lincoln was not over ten feet tall. So, Lincoln was over fifteen
feet tall.
Subject area: Forms and counterexamples
98. If the following argument is an instance of one of
the "famous" argument forms, name the form and indicate whether the
form is valid or invalid; if the argument is NOT an instance of one of the
"famous" forms, simply write "unnamed form."
If Theresa buys the first-edition Greg Baer novel, then she will have Mr. Baer autograph it on Monday. If Theresa buys the first-edition Orson Scott Card novel, then she will have Mr. Card autograph it on Tuesday. Since she's either going to buy the first-edition Greg Baer novel or she's going to buy the first-edition Orson Scott Card novel, she'll either have Mr. Baer autograph his novel on Monday or she'll have Mr. Card autograph his novel on Tuesday.
If Theresa buys the first-edition Greg Baer novel, then she will have Mr. Baer autograph it on Monday. If Theresa buys the first-edition Orson Scott Card novel, then she will have Mr. Card autograph it on Tuesday. Since she's either going to buy the first-edition Greg Baer novel or she's going to buy the first-edition Orson Scott Card novel, she'll either have Mr. Baer autograph his novel on Monday or she'll have Mr. Card autograph his novel on Tuesday.
Constructive dilemma-valid
Subject area: "Famous" argument forms
99. If the following argument is an instance of one of
the "famous" argument forms, name the form and indicate whether the
form is valid or invalid; if the argument is NOT an instance of one of the
"famous" forms, simply write "unnamed form."
If Wilma goes to college in California, then Fred will turn down the job in Florida. Fred turned down the job in Florida, so Wilma must be going to college in California.
If Wilma goes to college in California, then Fred will turn down the job in Florida. Fred turned down the job in Florida, so Wilma must be going to college in California.
Affirming the consequent-invalid
Subject area: "Famous" argument forms
100. If the following argument is an instance of one
of the "famous" argument forms, name the form and indicate whether
the form is valid or invalid; if the argument is NOT an instance of one of the
"famous" forms, simply write "unnamed form."
If either Gertrude or Herbert won, then both Jane and Kenneth lost. Since I know that either Gertrude or Herbert won, it must follow that both Jane and Kenneth lost.
If either Gertrude or Herbert won, then both Jane and Kenneth lost. Since I know that either Gertrude or Herbert won, it must follow that both Jane and Kenneth lost.
Modus ponens-valid
Subject area: "Famous" argument forms
101. If the following argument is an instance of one
of the "famous" argument forms, name the form and indicate whether
the form is valid or invalid; if the argument is NOT an instance of one of the
"famous" forms, simply write "unnamed form."
If states should run efficiently, then they should decrease the number of propositions on ballots. If states should promote direct democracy, then they should increase the number of propositions on ballots. Either states should not decrease the number of propositions on ballots or states should not increase the number of propositions on ballots. So, either states should not run efficiently or states should not promote direct democracy.
If states should run efficiently, then they should decrease the number of propositions on ballots. If states should promote direct democracy, then they should increase the number of propositions on ballots. Either states should not decrease the number of propositions on ballots or states should not increase the number of propositions on ballots. So, either states should not run efficiently or states should not promote direct democracy.
Unnamed form. (Note: some texts refer to this form as destructive
dilemma.)
Subject area: "Famous" argument forms
102. If the following argument is an instance of one
of the "famous" argument forms, name the form and indicate whether
the form is valid or invalid; if the argument is NOT an instance of one of the
"famous" forms, simply write "unnamed form."
Either terrorists are wicked or terrorists are freedom fighters. Terrorists are wicked. It follows that terrorists are not freedom fighters.
Either terrorists are wicked or terrorists are freedom fighters. Terrorists are wicked. It follows that terrorists are not freedom fighters.
Unnamed form
Subject area: "Famous" argument forms
103. Use a counterexample to show that the following
argument is invalid. (Remember, it is usually best to use terms—or statements—whose
interrelations are well known.)
"No people whose attention is easily distracted while they are working are people who are keenly interested in their work. No successful people are people whose attention is easily distracted while they are working. So, all successful people are people who are keenly interested in their work."
"No people whose attention is easily distracted while they are working are people who are keenly interested in their work. No successful people are people whose attention is easily distracted while they are working. So, all successful people are people who are keenly interested in their work."
No cats are fish. No dogs are cats. So, all dogs are fish.
Subject area: Forms and counterexamples
104. Use a counterexample to show that the following
argument is invalid. (Remember, it is usually best to use terms—or
statements—whose interrelations are well known.)
"All neutron stars are things that produce intense gravity, and all neutron stars are extremely dense objects. Thus, all extremely dense objects are things that produce intense gravity."
"All neutron stars are things that produce intense gravity, and all neutron stars are extremely dense objects. Thus, all extremely dense objects are things that produce intense gravity."
All collies are dogs. All collies are mammals. So, all
mammals are dogs.
Subject area: Forms and counterexamples
105. Use a counterexample to show that the following
argument is invalid. (Remember, it is usually best to use terms—or
statements—whose interrelations are well known.)
"All zoologists are natural scientists. No historians are zoologists. So, no historians are natural scientists."
"All zoologists are natural scientists. No historians are zoologists. So, no historians are natural scientists."
All dogs are animals. No cats are dogs. So, no cats are
animals.
Subject area: Forms and counterexamples
106. Use a counterexample to show that the following
argument is invalid. (Remember, it is usually best to use terms—or
statements—whose interrelations are well known.)
"Some people who endanger the social order are not mean-spirited people. All intolerant people are people who endanger the social order. Hence, some intolerant people are not mean-spirited people."
"Some people who endanger the social order are not mean-spirited people. All intolerant people are people who endanger the social order. Hence, some intolerant people are not mean-spirited people."
Answers will vary
Subject area: Forms and counterexamples
107. Use a counterexample to show that the following
argument is invalid. (Remember, it is usually best to use terms—or
statements—whose interrelations are well known.)
"Some pets are collies. Some collies are dogs. So, some pets are dogs."
"Some pets are collies. Some collies are dogs. So, some pets are dogs."
Answers will vary
108. Use a counterexample to show that the following
argument is invalid. (Remember, it is usually best to use terms—or
statements—whose interrelations are well known.)
"Sue is a physician. So, either Sue is a physician or Sue is a politician, but not both."
"Sue is a physician. So, either Sue is a physician or Sue is a politician, but not both."
Answers will vary
Subject area: Forms and counterexamples
109. Use a counterexample to show that the following
argument is invalid. (Remember, it is usually best to use terms—or
statements—whose interrelations are well known.)
"Churchill was a politician or a painter. Churchill was a politician. So, Churchill was not a painter."
"Churchill was a politician or a painter. Churchill was a politician. So, Churchill was not a painter."
Answers will vary
110. If the following argument is an instance of one
of the "famous" argument forms, name the form and indicate whether
the form is valid or invalid; if the argument is NOT an instance of one of the
"famous" forms, simply write "unnamed form."
If Sam makes it through Shelob's lair, then Frodo will be saved. If Frodo is saved, then Gollum will lose his precious ring. So, if Sam makes it through Shelob's lair, then Gollum will lose his precious ring.
If Sam makes it through Shelob's lair, then Frodo will be saved. If Frodo is saved, then Gollum will lose his precious ring. So, if Sam makes it through Shelob's lair, then Gollum will lose his precious ring.
Hypothetical syllogism-valid
Subject area: "Famous" argument forms
111. If the following argument is an instance of one
of the "famous" argument forms, name the form and indicate whether
the form is valid or invalid; if the argument is NOT an instance of one of the
"famous" forms, simply write "unnamed form."
If Susan lacks the nerve to tell Stephen what she thinks of him, then I should quit my job immediately. But Susan does not lack the nerve to tell Stephen what she thinks of him, so I shouldn't quit my job immediately.
If Susan lacks the nerve to tell Stephen what she thinks of him, then I should quit my job immediately. But Susan does not lack the nerve to tell Stephen what she thinks of him, so I shouldn't quit my job immediately.
Denying the antecedent-invalid
Subject area: "Famous" argument forms
112. If the following argument is an instance of one of
the "famous" argument forms, name the form and indicate whether the
form is valid or invalid; if the argument is NOT an instance of one of the
"famous" forms, simply write "unnamed form."
Canada does not directly control the governments of countries other than itself. But Canada directly controls the governments of countries other than itself if Canada is a neo-colonial power. Hence, Canada is not a neo-colonial power.
Canada does not directly control the governments of countries other than itself. But Canada directly controls the governments of countries other than itself if Canada is a neo-colonial power. Hence, Canada is not a neo-colonial power.
Modus tollens-valid
Subject area: "Famous" argument forms
113. If the following argument is an instance of one
of the "famous" argument forms, name the form and indicate whether
the form is valid or invalid; if the argument is NOT an instance of one of the
"famous" forms, simply write "unnamed form."
Either we should launch a preemptive strike or else we should adopt a policy of containment. We should not launch a preemptive strike. Therefore, we should adopt a policy of containment.
Either we should launch a preemptive strike or else we should adopt a policy of containment. We should not launch a preemptive strike. Therefore, we should adopt a policy of containment.
Disjunctive syllogism-valid
Subject area: "Famous" argument forms
114. If the following argument is an instance of one
of the "famous" argument forms, name the form and indicate whether
the form is valid or invalid; if the argument is NOT an instance of one of the
"famous" forms, simply write "unnamed form."
Terrorists have legitimate grievances. And the grievances of terrorists should be addressed assuming that terrorists have legitimate ones. Therefore, the grievances of terrorists should be addressed.
Terrorists have legitimate grievances. And the grievances of terrorists should be addressed assuming that terrorists have legitimate ones. Therefore, the grievances of terrorists should be addressed.
Answers will vary
Subject area: "Famous" argument forms
115. If the following argument is an instance of one
of the "famous" argument forms, name the form and indicate whether
the form is valid or invalid; if the argument is NOT an instance of one of the
"famous" forms, simply write "unnamed form."
If Donald Duck is a vampire, then Donald Duck is dangerous. But, Donald Duck is not a vampire. So, Donald Duck is not dangerous.
If Donald Duck is a vampire, then Donald Duck is dangerous. But, Donald Duck is not a vampire. So, Donald Duck is not dangerous.
Answers will vary
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