Chapter 10. Deductive Arguments II
"If a person wakes up early, then he or she is successful in life. If he or she is successful in life, he or she will be famous. Therefore, if a person wakes up early, he or she will be famous." Identify the form of argument.
A chain argument
Identify the fallacy that masquerades as modus ponens.
Affirming the consequent
In the context of the forms of argument, a(n) _____ _____ comprises two conditionals for premises and another for the conclusion.
Blank 1: chain Blank 2: argument
A two-premise valid argument form, one premise of which is a conditional and the other of which is the antecedent of that conditional, is known as _____ _____.
Blank 1: modus Blank 2: ponens
Identify the form of a chain argument.
If P then Q. If Q then R. If P then R.
Identify the fallacy of denying the antecedent.
If P then Q. Not-P. Therefore, not-Q.
Which of the following patterns fits the two-premise argument form called modus tollens?
If P then Q. Not-Q./Not-P.
Which of the following patterns fits the two-premise valid argument form called modus ponens?
If P then Q. P. Therefore Q.
Which of the following is the pattern of the fallacy that impersonates modus ponens?
If P then Q. Q. Therefore, P.
Identify a true statement about the invalid argument form called undistributed middle.
It has the same consequent for each of its conditional premises.
"The school functions successfully.The school functions successfully only if its teachers have been sincere.Its teachers have been sincere."Identify the form of argument.
Modus ponens
"If I go to the store, I'll buy ice cream. I won't buy ice cream today.So, I didn't go to the store."What type of argument is this?
Modus tollens
"If current is passing through the wire, the wire will glow red. But the wire is not glowing red. Therefore, there is no current passing through the wire."Which of the following forms of argument does this exemplify?
Modus tollens
"If he had recovered, he would have attended the seminar. But he has not attended the seminar; thus, he has not recovered." Identify the form of argument.
Modus tollens
Identify a true statement about modus ponens.
The conclusion of the argument is the consequent of the conditional.
Which of the following statements is true of the two-premise argument form called modus tollens?
The conclusion of the argument is the negation of the antecedent.
True or false: The technique of "reductio ad absurdum" attempts to show that a given claim clearly leads to a second claim, and that the second claim cannot be true.
This is true. The technique of "reductio ad absurdum", widely used in science and mathematics, attempts to show that a given claim clearly leads to a second claim, and that the second claim cannot be true. Thus, by modus tollens, the first claim cannot be true either.
Which of the following invalid argument forms mimics a chain argument?
Undistributed middle
"If the rate of gold decreases, it will be easily available. If it will be easily available, then its demand will increase. Therefore, if the rate of gold decreases, then its demand will increase." This argument is an example of _____.
a chain argument
The fallacy of _____ impersonates modus tollens.
denying the antecedent
The argument form of modus tollens is the logical structure underlying the technique known as _____.
reductio ad absurdum
Every argument that has the form of either modus ponens or modus tollens is automatically _____.
valid
