Module 1 Homework 1

Argument 3 Paris is called the "City of Lights." Las Vegas is also called the "City of Lights." So, there must be at least two cities with the same nickname. Is the statement "Las Vegas is also called the "City of Lights."" a premise or conclusion of this argument?

Premise

An enthymeme is an argument with one premise and one conclusion

false

An inductive argument is one in which it is claimed that the conclusion follows necessarily from the premises.

false

In logic, following the principle of charity means giving money to charitable causes

false

Which is the most charitable missing conclusion to add to the following enthymeme? Voting for a political candidate who shares your political outlook is crucial. It's a bad idea to be a one-issue voter, for that reason. I know you think that abortion is morally wrong, and the Republican candidate claims to agree. But the Democratic candidate defends policies much closer to your views, like universal healthcare.

You should vote for the Democratic candidate.

Which is the most charitable missing conclusion to add to the following enthymeme? The President is seeking reelection. Changing course in the middle of a difficult time is dangerous. We're living through a global pandemic!

You should vote to reelect the President

Which is the most charitable missing premise to add to the following enthymeme? No theater major likes reading about chemical analysis, so I'm pretty sure Nathan'll hate it.

Nathan is a theater major

Argument 5 You know, I believe that we should stop interfering in other countries' affairs. This follows from the fact that we have no moral right to change a country's way of governing itself. Also, interfering often gets us locked into combat; not to mention that the potential for loss of lives on both sides is high. In addition, the cost of waging wars is astronomical. Any engagement means weakening our already shaky economy. Add the fact that interfering makes us have more enemies around the world who feel threatened by us. Is the statement "The cost of waging wars is astronomical" a premise or a conclusion of the argument?

Premise

Consider the following argument: Edith has gray hair Edith has a bad knee ------------------------- Edith is at least seventy years old Would adding the following statement as a new premise strengthen, weaken, or neither strengthen nor weaken the argument? Edith has two grandchildren

Strengthen

Which is a direct counterexample to the following argument? The worst household chore is something one has to clean in the bathroom The worst household chore is cleaning something ceramic ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The worst household chore is cleaning the bathtub

The worst household chore is cleaning the toilet.

Which is the most charitable missing conclusion to add to the following enthymeme? We've not watched a good horror movie in ages. I know you prefer to watch romantic comedies, but we've seen those for the last three movie nights. You've never seen Scream III.

We should watch Scream III

Argument 2 Want to know why soy bean curd has no taste? Well, the fat in hamburgers is what gives them their great taste. And the fat in pizza is what gives it great taste. In general, food without fat tastes bland. And soy bean curd has no fat. Is the statement "Food without fat tastes bland" a premise or conclusion of this argument?

premise

Argument 6 Building fuel-efficient cars helps reduce gasoline consumption. We need to start building more fuel-efficient cars. Dependency on foreign oil for gasoline production is a drain on the economy. Offshore oil drilling is dangerous. Oil spills through faulty drilling are hazardous to life; so are large tanker spills. Carbon emissions are hurting the environment. Is the statement "Oil spills through faulty drilling are hazardous to life" a premise or a a conclusion of the argument?

premise

Consider the following argument: Edith has gray hair Edith has a bad knee ----------------------- Edith is at least seventy years old Would adding the following statement as a new premise strengthen, weaken, or neither strengthen nor weaken the argument? There is a bottle of gray hair dye in Edith's trash.

Weaken

Does the following passage contain an argument or not? It follows from the fact that she eats pork, chicken, beef, mutton, veal, venison, turkey, and fish that she must not be a vegetarian.

argument

Consider the following argument: The detective knows that the murderer is either the maid, the cook, or the butler. The murderer left floury fingerprints at the scene of the crime --------------------------------- The cook is the murderer Would adding the following statement as a new premise strengthen, weaken, or neither strengthen nor weaken the argument? The only people with keys to the pantry, where the flour is kept, are the cook and the butler

Strengthen

Which is a direct counterexample to the following argument: Grandma always makes baked goods when we visit Grandma's favorite thing to bake is bread --------------------------------------------------------- Grandma will bake us bread when we visit

Grandma bakes us brownies when we visit

Which is a direct counterexample to the following argument? Hilde is drinking a hot drink Hilde doesn't like coffee ------------------------------- Hilde is drinking tea

Hilde is drinking hot cocoa

Which is the most charitable missing premise to add to the following enthymeme? If it rains this afternoon and I don't have an umbrella, I'll get soaked. It rains this afternoon. So I get soaked.

I don't have an umbrella.

Does the following passage contain an argument or not? Newspapers are a good source of in-depth news and they are easily accessible. Weekly magazines are good source of in-depth news and they are easily accessible. PBS, CNN, and CSPAN are good sources of in-depth news and they are easily accessible. There is no reason why anyone should remain ignorant of what's going on in the world.

argument

"It follows that" is a premise indicator phrase

false

Argument 4 Paris's Eiffel Tower is three times as tall as the one in Las Vegas. The Luxor Pyramid in Las Vegas is half the size of the original in Egypt. The Statue of Liberty in New York is four times the one in Las Vegas. Thus, every object in Las Vegas is smaller than in other cities. Is the statement "Every object in Las Vegas is smaller than in other cities." a premise or a conclusion of the argument?

conclusion

Does the following passage contain an argument or not? I like candy. I love chocolate. I hate peanuts. Also, I don't care for circus acts or water sports. It's OK if you like that stuff.

not an argument