Review Test 2-No key.docx

Review Test 2 – no key Inductive argument: An argument in which the premises are intended to provide support, but not conclusive evidence, for the conclusion If the premises are true, then the conclusion must be true If the premises are true, then the conclusion is probably true Induction indicator words: Words or phrases such as “likely,” “probably,” “it’s plausible to suppose that,” “it’s reasonable to believe that,” and “odds are that” Inductive generalization: Argument that relies on characteristics of a sample population (that is, a portion of the population) to make a claim about the population as a whole Statistical Argument: Argues from premises regarding a percentage of a population to a conclusion about an individual member of that population or some part of that population Argument from analogy: Argument that suggests that the presence of certain similarities is evidence for further similarities Deductive vs inductive arguments (example) Alvin needs potassium in his diet because all human beings need potassium in their diets. Most adults can tolerate moderate amounts of sugar in their diets. Alvin is an adult, so he can tolerate moderate amounts of sugar in his diet. Logical Fallacies: Weak analogy : An arguer compares two (or more) things that aren’t really comparable in relevant respects Inappropriate appeal to authority : Rely uncritically on someone’s opinion (the person is not an authority –see advertisements Appeal to pity : Occurs when an arguer inappropriately attempts to evoke feelings of pity or compassion from his listeners or readers Appeal to Ignorance : An arguer asserts that a claim must be true because no one has proven it false (and vice versa) Attacking the person (Ad Hominem) : When you attack your opponent personally, instead of criticizing his/her position

Inconsistency : An arguer asserts inconsistent or contradictory claims (two beliefs in contradiction) Equivocation : A key word is used in two or more senses in the same argument and the apparent success of the argument depends on the shift in meaning. Hasty generalization (weak inductive generalization) : When the sample population is too small or not representative for the population as a whole Slippery slope : We can’t allow A, because A will lead to B, B to C and we don’t want C (C is terrible) Circular reasoning (Begging the question): An argument that goes around, in circles. A premise states what it needs to be proven in the conclusion. Straw man : An arguer distorts (modifies) an opponent’s argument or claim to make it easier to be attacked. Appeal to Popularity (The Bandwagon Argument; Ad Populum): Everybody (or a selective group) does or believe X, so you should do the same. The fallacy of composition: arguing that what is true of the parts of something must be true of the whole thing. The fallacy of division : arguing that what is true of the whole must be true of the parts A. Identify the following fallacies: 1. Dudley said that whenever anything would go wrong at his last job, his boss would always say that he was responsible. I guess Dudley must be a very responsible person. I’d better hire him (adapted from Tom Morris, True Success , 1994). a) Straw Man b) Slippery Slope c) Appeal to Pity d) Appeal to Ignorance e) Equivocation

a. Appeal to Pity b. Appeal to Ignorance c. Equivocation d. Circular Reasoning e. Attacking the Person (the motive) 8. In the summer of 1940, Londoners were bombed almost every night. To be bombed is to be intoxicated. Therefore, in the summer of 1940, Londoners were intoxicated almost every night. a. Straw Man b. Appeal to Ignorance c. Equivocation d. Circular Reasoning e. Attacking the Person 9. Professor Davis has argued that the Bible should not be read literally. Obviously, Davis believes that any reading of the Bible is as good as any other. But this would mean that there is no difference between a true interpretation of Scripture and a false interpretation. Such a view is absurd. a. Straw Man b. Slippery Slope c. Inappropriate Appeal to Authority d. Appeal to Ignorance e. Equivocation 10. Officer, I know I was going 80 miles per hour in a 15-mile-an-hour school zone, but I don’t deserve a speed ticket. I’ve had a really tough week. Yesterday I got fired from my job, and last Monday my Chihuahua got eaten by a Great Dane. a. Inappropriate Appeal to Authority b. Appeal to Pity c. Appeal to Ignorance d. Equivocation e. Attacking the Person 11. After years of extensive scientific testing, there is no evidence that substance XYZ is toxic to rodents. Therefore, it’s reasonable to conclude that substance XYZ is not toxic to rodents. a. Inconsistency b. Appeal to Ignorance c. Equivocation d. Circular Reasoning e. Attacking the Person

13. My father said that the Super Bowl half-time show was a real disaster. That’s interesting because I read in the newspaper that the Federal government has real funds available for victims of disasters. So, maybe my dad can apply for some relief funds. a. Inappropriate Appeal to Authority b. Appeal to Pity c. Appeal to Ignorance d. Equivocation e. Attacking the Person 14. Everything written in that book is 100 percent accurate. It has to be, since nothing in it is false. a. Inconsistency b. Appeal to Ignorance c. Equivocation d. Circular Reasoning (begging the question) e. Attacking the Person 15. Maybe you didn’t know that she is an orphan. Her outrageous behavior should be excused because of her background. a. Inappropriate Appeal to Authority b. Appeal to Pity c. Appeal to Ignorance d. Equivocation e. Attacking the Person 16. Aliens from another planet must have built the great pyramids of Egypt because there is no record of how they were actually constructed. a. Inappropriate Appeal to Authority b. Appeal to Pity c. Appeal to Ignorance d. Equivocation e. Attacking the Person 17. I am going to vote for the incumbent, senator Lowman, because my chemistry teacher said he is the best candidate. a. Inconsistency b. Straw Man c. Slippery Slope d. Inappropriate Appeal to Authority e. Hasty Generalization 18. Look, the picture of the Olympic basketball team is on the cereal. It must be good for athletes. a. Inconsistency

29. Lettuce is leafy and green and tastes great with a veggie burger. Poison ivy is also leafy and green. Therefore, poison ivy probably tastes great with a veggie burger, too. (Weak Analogy) 30. All bachelors are unhappy. They just interviewed the guys down at the Beta fraternity house and they turned out to be unhappy. They got the same results down at Bernie’s Tavern. (Hasty Generalization) B. Determine whether the following arguments are deductive, inductive generalization, argument by analogy or statistical argument. 1. It is decision time at Widget, Inc. The company president says: “Our market research department has just completed the test of the new and improved Widget in three test market areas: Dallas, Detroit, and Denver. In all three cities the consumers preferred the new Widget over the old two to one. I think we should go for it.” a. deductive b. inductive generalization c. argument by analogy d. statistical argument 2. 60 percent of college graduates get a high-paying job after graduation. Sybil is graduating; therefore she’ll likely have a high-paying job soon. a. deductive b. inductive generalization c. argument by analogy d. statistical argument 3. Don’t worry, Bruce will resist the health-sapping consequences of smoking, because most people with the “lucky” gene configuration will resist and he has this configuration. a. deductive b. inductive generalization c. argument by analogy d. statistical argument 4. Exercise is good for the vast majority of people. Therefore, it would be good for my ninety-five-year-old grandfather to run in next year’s Boston Marathon. a) deductive

b) inductive generalization c) argument from analogy d) statistical argument 5. States were justified in suing tobacco companies to recover the health-care costs associated with smoking. Similarly, states would be justified in suing McDonald’s and Burger King to recover the health-care costs associated with eating fatty foods. a) deductive b) inductive generalization c) argument from analogy d) statistical argument 6. All Americans favor a constitutional amendment allowing prayer in public schools. Melvin Bixby, president of the North American Atheist Society, is an American. So, Melvin Bixby favors such an amendment. a) deductive b) inductive generalization c) argument from analogy d) statistical argument 7. The fifteen winters Eric spent in New York City were cold. So, it may be that most winters in New York City are cold. a) deductive b) inductive generalization c) argument from analogy d) statistical argument 8. Based on a survey of one hundred thousand American high school students, approximately half go on to attend college. So, it is probably the case that about half the people in the world have attended college. a) deductive b) inductive generalization c) argument from analogy d) statistical argument 9. Squirrels and rats are rodents of similar size and appearance. Rats cause problems in the city, and squirrels cause problems in the suburbs. Rats should be exterminated. So, squirrels should be exterminated. a) deductive b) inductive generalization c) argument from analogy d) statistical argument