PHIL 1020 Exam Questions with Verified
Solutions
Critical Thinking - ANS-the skill of correctly evaluating the arguments made by others
and composing good arguments of one's own
Argument - ANS-any attempt to provide reasons for thinking that some belief is true
Conclusion - ANS-the statement that the argument is intended to support
Premise - ANS-the statement(s) that are intended to support the conclusion
Statement - ANS-a sentence that makes a claim that can be either true or false
(both the conclusion and the premise are statements)
Why are questions and instructions not arguments? - ANS-They cannot be true or false
Explanandum - ANS-statement of what is being explained
Explanas - ANS-parts of an explanation that do the explaining
Difference between arguments and explanations - ANS-Arguments assume a
disagreement about the truth of the conclusion while explanations assume no
disagreement about the truth of the explanandum
Standard form of an argument - ANS-1. 1st premise
2. 2nd premise
3. 3rd premise
Therefore,
4. Conclusion
Subarguments - ANS-arguments that are used to support premises of the main
argument
Qualities of a good argument - ANS-1. have true premises
2. have proper form
Proper form test - ANS-assume the premises are true
if the premises were true, would they provide sufficient support for the conclusion of the
argument
, True premise test - ANS-see if the premises are true
Deductive arguments - ANS-claim that the truth of the premises shows that the
conclusion must be true
If S1, then S2. S1. Therefore, S2
All G1 are G2. All G2 are G3. Therfore, all G1 are G3.
Inductive arguments - ANS-claim that the truth of the premises shows the conclusion is
likely to be true
Of many X1, all had G1. All X1 have G1.
For all observed X1, Y1 occurred. For all X1, Y1 occurs
Validity - ANS-A valid argument is deductive and assuming the premise(s) are true, the
conclusion must be true
Soundness - ANS-A sound argument is deductive with validity and all true premises
Strength - ANS-a strong argument is an inductive argument in which the premise(s) give
reason to believe the conclusion is true
Cogency - ANS-A cogent argument is inductive with all true premises and is strong
Counterargument - ANS-argument that draws a conclusion opposing an initial argument
Refutation - ANS-argument whose conclusion is that another argument fails the true
premise or proper form test
Red Herring/ Smokescreen fallacy - ANS-Fallacy that occurs when someone makes a
statement or offers an argument that distracts attention away from the argument under
discussion
Easy Target/ Straw Man fallacy - ANS-attempt to refute or counter the original argument
by refuting or countering an argument that is on the same topic, but a distorted version
Appeal to popularity fallacy - ANS-a fallacy that occurs when someone argues that a
view is true on the grounds that it is popular
-Bandwagon Fallacy
Appeal to novelty or tradition - ANS-when someone argues a statement is true because
people have believed it for a short time (novelty) or long time (tradition)
Ad Hominem fallacy - ANS-attacking a person instead of an argument
Fallacy of Guilt by Association - ANS-dismisses an argument based on an affinity or
relationship to a group, person, or view
Solutions
Critical Thinking - ANS-the skill of correctly evaluating the arguments made by others
and composing good arguments of one's own
Argument - ANS-any attempt to provide reasons for thinking that some belief is true
Conclusion - ANS-the statement that the argument is intended to support
Premise - ANS-the statement(s) that are intended to support the conclusion
Statement - ANS-a sentence that makes a claim that can be either true or false
(both the conclusion and the premise are statements)
Why are questions and instructions not arguments? - ANS-They cannot be true or false
Explanandum - ANS-statement of what is being explained
Explanas - ANS-parts of an explanation that do the explaining
Difference between arguments and explanations - ANS-Arguments assume a
disagreement about the truth of the conclusion while explanations assume no
disagreement about the truth of the explanandum
Standard form of an argument - ANS-1. 1st premise
2. 2nd premise
3. 3rd premise
Therefore,
4. Conclusion
Subarguments - ANS-arguments that are used to support premises of the main
argument
Qualities of a good argument - ANS-1. have true premises
2. have proper form
Proper form test - ANS-assume the premises are true
if the premises were true, would they provide sufficient support for the conclusion of the
argument
, True premise test - ANS-see if the premises are true
Deductive arguments - ANS-claim that the truth of the premises shows that the
conclusion must be true
If S1, then S2. S1. Therefore, S2
All G1 are G2. All G2 are G3. Therfore, all G1 are G3.
Inductive arguments - ANS-claim that the truth of the premises shows the conclusion is
likely to be true
Of many X1, all had G1. All X1 have G1.
For all observed X1, Y1 occurred. For all X1, Y1 occurs
Validity - ANS-A valid argument is deductive and assuming the premise(s) are true, the
conclusion must be true
Soundness - ANS-A sound argument is deductive with validity and all true premises
Strength - ANS-a strong argument is an inductive argument in which the premise(s) give
reason to believe the conclusion is true
Cogency - ANS-A cogent argument is inductive with all true premises and is strong
Counterargument - ANS-argument that draws a conclusion opposing an initial argument
Refutation - ANS-argument whose conclusion is that another argument fails the true
premise or proper form test
Red Herring/ Smokescreen fallacy - ANS-Fallacy that occurs when someone makes a
statement or offers an argument that distracts attention away from the argument under
discussion
Easy Target/ Straw Man fallacy - ANS-attempt to refute or counter the original argument
by refuting or countering an argument that is on the same topic, but a distorted version
Appeal to popularity fallacy - ANS-a fallacy that occurs when someone argues that a
view is true on the grounds that it is popular
-Bandwagon Fallacy
Appeal to novelty or tradition - ANS-when someone argues a statement is true because
people have believed it for a short time (novelty) or long time (tradition)
Ad Hominem fallacy - ANS-attacking a person instead of an argument
Fallacy of Guilt by Association - ANS-dismisses an argument based on an affinity or
relationship to a group, person, or view
