Chapter 1

T/F: Empedocles articulated the basic outlines of natural selection twenty-five centuries ago.

True

Arguments intended to give logically conclusive support to their conclusions so that if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true are A. deductive. B. inductive. C. explanatory. D. cogent.

deductive.

T/F: The key to identifying an argument in context is to first identify the author.

False

T/F: When you read a philosophical essay, you are simply trying to glean some facts from it as you might if you were reading a science text or technical report.

False

T/F: This classic argument, "The Bible says that God exists; the Bible is true because God wrote it; therefore, God exists" is an example of begging the question.

True

Words such as consequently, therefore, and as a result are A. premise indicator words. B. conclusion indicator words. C. statements. D persuaders.

conclusion indicator words.

A question-and-answer dialogue in which propositions are methodically scrutinized to uncover the truth is known as A. an argument. B. the Socratic method. C. the Socratic jest. D. a debate.

the Socratic method.

The fallacy of arguing that a claim must be true simply because many people believe it is known as A. the appeal to popularity. B. the fallacy of equivocation. C. the genetic fallacy. D. begging the question.

the appeal to popularity.

T/F: An argument is not synonymous with causes.

False

T/F: An argument is synonymous with persuasion.

False

T/F: An argument of this form "If p, then q; p; therefore, q" is called modus tollens.

False

T/F: Any type of declarative statement is an argument.

False

T/F: Aristotle said, "An unexamined life is not worth living."

False

In an argument, the statement being supported is the conclusion, and the statements supporting the conclusion are the A. middle statement. B. premises. C. persuaders. D. substatements.

premises.

T/F: Philosophy, being an ancient art, cannot be applied to modern social problems such as racism.

False

The fallacy of __________ is trying to prove a conclusion by using that very same conclusion as support. A. equivocation B. composition C. false dilemma D. begging the question

begging the question.

The fallacy of misrepresenting a person's views so they can be more easily attacked or dismissed is called the A. appeal to popularity. B. fallacy of equivocation. C. genetic fallacy. D. straw man fallacy.

straw man fallacy.

T/F: A deductive argument is an argument intended to give probable support to its conclusion.

False

T/F: If inductive arguments succeed in lending very probable support to their conclusions, they are said to be weak.

False

T/F: In the argument form known as inference to the best explanation, we reason in this fashion: Two or more things are similar in several ways; therefore, they are probably similar in one further way.

False

If you assume that a set of statements is true, and yet you can deduce a false or absurd statement from it, then the original set of statements as a whole must be false. This kind of argument is known as A. modus tollens. B. modus ponens. C. hypothetical syllogism. D. reductio ad absurdum.

reductio ad absurdum.

The famous statement "An unexamined life is not worth living" is attributed to A. Aristotle. B. John Locke. C. Socrates. D. Plato.

Socrates.

T/F: Modus tollens is a valid argument form.

True

According to Socrates, a clear sign that a person has __________ is her exclusive pursuit of social status, wealth, power, and pleasure. A. philosophical ambition B. worldly wisdom C. exceptional desires D. an unhealthy soul

an unhealthy soul

The fallacy of rejecting a statement on the grounds that it comes from a particular person is known as A. appeal to ignorance. B. equivocation. C. false dilemma. D. appeal to the person.

appeal to the person.

The study of value in the broadest sense (moral, aesthetic, etc.) is known as A. metaphysics. B. epistemology. C. quantum physics. D. axiology.

axiology.

The renowned philosopher who lived and worked in the Greek city of Alexandria in the fifth century was A. Hypatia. B. Philippa. C. Avicenna. D. Anselm.

Hypatia.