Quiz 1: Reconstruction

(a)
P1: As a general rule, evergreen plants (conifers) grow best in acidic environments.
P2: The Colorado blue spruce tree you recently bought is an evergreen (conifer).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C: The Colorado blue spruce tree you recently bought thrives in acidic soil conditions.

(b) inductive;  general-to-specific

(c)
Most Es are As
t is an E.
-----------------
t is an A.

For a basketball program at a small university like Gonzaga to succeed, there are a number of non-negotiables: qualified and experienced staff, vigorous recruitment efforts, quality training, travel.  Of course, meeting the demands of these non-negotiables costs moneyóbig money.  What does that mean?  We canít avoid talking about money in connection with GUís success in NCAA Division I sports.  You want success, you gonna have to pay.

(a)
P1: If a small basketball program like GUís is to succeed, certain non-negotiables must be addressed: staff, recruitment, training, travel.
P2: If the non-negotiables are addressed in a satisfactory way, significant funds will have to be spent.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C: If a small basketball program like GUís is to succeed, significant funds will have to be spent.

(b) deductive;  hypothetical syllogism
 

Quiz 2: Fallacies
 

Quiz 2 Fallacies
 

For each passage, (a) write the conclusion of the argument, and (b) identify the fallacy that most clearly diagnoses the problem with the argument and briefly explain your identification.

1. I donít mind at all having my views associated with Christian conservatives.  After all, they are called the "Christian right," and since "right" means "correct," itís clear that even their opponents admit that their views are true!

(a)  I donít mind being associated with the Christian right.

(b)  EQUIVOCATION: the author of the argument takes "Christian right" to imply that the views of this group are "correct," because "right" can mean both "conservative" and "true."  This is fallacious, because the meanings of the word are independent: a conservative position on an issue is not necessarily the true position.
 
 

2.  It would be highly unfair to fire Jenkins at this time.  Yes, it is true that his presentation at the meeting with the Bradston Company executives was full of inaccuracies and omissions, but heís really been preoccupied with his poor showing in the marathon he ran last month.

(a)  It would be unfair to fire Jenkins at this time.

(b)  APPEAL TO PITY: while we often do explain poor performance in a job or work assignment by personal issues going on in someoneís life, fairly trivial matters from a personís non-work life do not excuse gross negligence or incompetence.  The only reason for bringing it into the conversation is to cultivate feelings of pity for the person about to be fired.
 
 

3.  These days lots of activists want to deny you the right to wear fur.  But success on this front will just breed more restictions on your rightsómaybe leather next, then meat, perhaps even wood from trees.  At what point will you protect your rights.

(a)  We should not let activists deny us the right to wear fur.

(b)  SLIPPERY SLOPE: while it is true that many animal rights activists see the morality of fur-wearing as linked to other issues in our treatment of animals and nature in general, but it is not reasonable to suppose that restrictions (whether legal or social) on wearing fur will lead to restrictions on other uses of animal and plant products.  This argument is therefore a fallacious slippery slope.  The unreasonability of linking fur to other issues is hinted at by the authorís tentativeness ("maybe leather next").  Further, even many animal rights activists would say that discouraging people from wearing fur has little to do with our use of wood products.
 

Quiz 3: Testing for Deductive Validity
 
 
 

Email David H. Calhoun Back to PHIL 101 Critical Thinking Page Back to David H. Calhoun's Home Page  Copyright © 1998-2002 by David Calhoun.  All rights reserved. This page last updated on April 8, 2002.