D265 - WGU - CRITICAL THINKING - REASON AND EVIDENCE |98 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2023

PROPOSITIONS Are statements that can be true or false NON-PROPOSITONS Are sentences that are not statements about matters of fact or fiction. They do not make a claim that can be true or false. SIMPLE PROPOSITIONS Have no internal logic structure, meaning whether they are true or false does not depend on whether a part of them is true or false. They are simply true or false on their own. (Example: Harry Potter wears glasses. The sky is blue.) COMPLEX PROPOSITIONS Have internal logic structure, meaning they are composed of simple propositions. Whether they are true or false depends on whether their parts are true or false. (Example: The sky is blue, but it does not look blue to me right now. The cat ate the food, but he did not like it. The GDP of Canada is either $3 trillion or $12 trillion.) Words used to identify Independent Propositions AND, OR, EITHER, BUT, IF, THEN. CONCLUSION INDICATORS THEREFORE, SO, IT FOLLOWS THAT, HENCE, THUS, ENTAILS THAT, WE MAY CONCLUDE THAT, IMPLIES THAT, WHEREFORE, AND AS A RESULT. PREMISE INDICATORS BECAUSE, FOR, GIVEN THAT, AS, SINCE, AS INDICATED BY. DEDUCTIVE ARGUMENTS Arguments where the premises guarantee or necessitate the conclusion. -mathematical arguments, logical arguments, arguments from definition. INDUCTION ARGUMENTS Arguments where the premises make the conclusion probable. -analogies, authority, causal inferences, extrapolations, etc. INFERENCE TO THE BEST EXPLANATION OR ABDUCTION Arguments where the best available explanation is chosen as the correct explanation. FORMAL FALLACY Concerns the structure of an argument INFORMAL FALLACY Concerns the informational content of an argument A FORMAL FALLACY IS A TYPE OF Bad Argument Structure Which piece of information would be the most helpful to know in assessing the credibility of a news story? Whether the name of the author and the publication are identified Which questions are most appropriate for evaluating the credibility of an information source? Who funded it? & Does it try to get you to distrust other sources? While researching a topic on the internet, a student encounters two different websites, one of that looks more official than the other and includes tables, charts, and statistics, while the other does not. What is the line of reasoning this student should employ to determine which site is more credible? It is not feasible to determine which site is more credible from the information provided. In which way should an information source be approached if it is stating that it is the only source of real information and that other sources cannot be trusted? Skeptically, because the source may lack credibility. PRINCIPLE OF CHARITY The principle of charity suggests we should try to understand ideas before criticizing them. Which of the following are reasons for applying the principle of charity? It is morally right to give others the benefit of the doubt. It allows for a clearer understanding of the issue. Smith is committed to the belief that technological advancement is always beneficial and thus never detrimental to human life. Smith reads a carefully written and sufficiently argued essay in which the author contends that the human adoption of any new technology involves both advantages and disadvantages to its adopters. Since Smith is a loyal technophile, Smith accepts the author's claims about the advantages of technology but rejects the author's claims about the disadvantages of technology. Which cognitive bias is Smith demonstrating? Confirmation Bias CONFIRMATION BIAS the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories. COGNITIVE BIAS a systematic thought process caused by the tendency of the human brain to simplify information processing through a filter of personal experience and preferences. HEURISTICS are practical rules of thumb that manifest as mental shortcuts in judgment and decision-making. Which sentence reflects strong critical thinking? "In any event, our purpose is to better understand the relevant issues so that we may make an informed decision on the topic." Since inflation is rising rapidly, and because we are approaching the point at which reversal is not possible, it follows that we need to institute a new economic policy, and we need to act quickly.Which two statements contain premises of the given argument? We are approaching the point at which reversal is not possible. & Inflation is rising rapidly. "Products manufactured in our country are the best because we make the best automobiles," declared Kennedy. Which two descriptors best characterize Kennedy's comments? An inference & A weak argument & A proposition Which two sentences are propositions? Lending helps stimulate capital investment. & A strong economy is vital to national security. I have grown bored since last week. Which descriptor accurately characterizes this sentence? Proposition People should pay their taxes since paying taxes is the right thing to do. Which type of logic error is this an example of? Begging the question One should not speed because speeding is wrong.Which type of logic error is this an example of? Begging the question My opponent argues that kangaroos can hop because hopping is something that kangaroos are able to do. Since my opponent has committed the fallacy of begging the question, one must infer that their conclusion is false, and that kangaroos cannot hop. Which type of logic error is this an example of? The fallacy fallacy If Bo is kind, then Bo is wealthy. Bo is wealthy. Therefore, Bo is kind. This is an example of which type of logic error? Affirming the consequent Which type of logic error is the following argument an example of? "My opponents argue that all giraffes have long necks because anyone who disagrees is a fool. Since my opponents are guilty of the ad hominem fallacy, we must infer that their conclusion is false, and that giraffes do not have long necks." The fallacy fallacy Usually when home team fans come out smiling and celebrating at the conclusion of a match, that means the home team won. At the conclusion of the match, many home team fans came out smiling and celebrating. I, therefore, concluded that the home team won. Which term describes this argument? Inductive