Blog

Consider the following passage: “My parents say that I haven’t given them a good enough reason for them to buy me a new Ipad.  That’s just the sort of thing those jerks would say.  If they can’t show me why I can’t get one, it only follows that I can.  Besides, everyone in my class has one, so I should, too.” The passage above is best interpreted as committing which of the following fallacies?

Consider the following passage: “After I washed my car, it started raining. It follows that if you ever want it to rain, just go ahead and get your car washed.” The passage above is best interpreted as committing which of the following fallacies?

Consider the following passage: “Either we throw all drug users into prison, or else will fall just like the Roman Empire did.  Since we don’t want our society to fall like that, it follows that we must throw all drug users into prison.” The statement “either we throw all drug users into prison or else our society will fall just the Roman Empire did” plays what role in the passage above?

Consider the following passage: “We can’t prove that unicorns don’t exist, so it must be that they are roaming undiscovered in some remote forest.” Which of the following is true of the proposition “it must be that they are roaming undiscovered in some remote forest” in the passage above?

Describe in words how you would diagram the following argument, including the numbering of each proposition and the identification of any assumptions upon which the argument depends. “All songs that reach the top of the Billboard charts are popular. Taylor Swift’s latest single reached the top of the Billboard charts. Therefore, Taylor Swift’s latest single is popular.”

Consider the following passage: “When did you realize that social media is nothing but a waste time?  Was it before you spent all weekend on it and failed your exam as a result, or was it after you lost your job for posting nasty comments about your boss online?” The passage above is best interpreted as committing which of the following fallacies?

Consider the following passage: “Either we throw all drug users into prison, or else will fall just like the Roman Empire did.  Since we don’t want our society to fall like that, it follows that we must throw all drug users into prison.” The passage above contains how many unique propositions

Explain the difference between an argument and an explanation.

Consider the following passage: My friend’s cat loves to sit on her lap and purrs contentedly whenever she pets it. Similarly, my neighbor’s cat always seeks out attention and affection, often curling up beside him on the couch. Therefore, it seems likely that most cats enjoy being close to their owners and appreciate affection. Which of the following is true of the passage above?

Consider the following passage: “The increase in global temperatures over the past century has resulted in the melting of polar ice caps. This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for immediate action to mitigate climate change and its devastating consequences.”  The proposition “This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for immediate action to mitigate climate change and its devastating consequences” plays which of the following roles in the passage above?