PLS2601 Assignment 2 Semester 2 2024

The Question 1. Understanding Critical Reasoning: Answer True or False: 1.1 The outcome of this module is to enable students to identify, construct and evaluate arguments. (2) 1.2 Critical Reasoning promotes dogmatic reasoning. (2) 1.3 The term ‘Critical Reasoning’ can be used interchangeably with the terms ‘critical thinking’ and ‘clear thinking.’ (2) 1.4 Critical reasoning can also be understood as ‘informal logic’. (2) 1.5 Critical Reasoning does not enable thinkers to think critically and reflectively. (2) 2. Different kinds of writings and definitions: 2.1 Identify the type of writing in each of the paragraphs or statements. 2.1.1 Some people believe that even if you can get away with awful crimes on this earth and are not punished by the law or your fellow men, such acts are forbidden by God, who will punish you after death. So even when it seems to be in your interest to do such a thing it really isn't. Some people have even believed that if there is no God to back up moral requirements with the threat of punishment and the promise of reward, morality is an illusion (Thomas Nagel – What does it all mean? p. 62). (2) 2.1.2 Arrange each of the arguments below in the standard way and say whether they are valid. Try to keep track of how you decide whether each one is valid. (2) 2.2 What kind of definitions are expressed in the statements below. 2.2.1 ‘Aereomobile’ means a vehicle that is normally driven on the ground but that has the capability of flying through the air to avoid traffic con gestion. (2) 2.2.2 The word ‘unicorn’ means an animal like a horse but having a single straight horn projecting from its forehead. (2) 3. Informal Fallacies: 3.1 Briefly describe each of the following fallacies: Semester 2 of 2024 Assignment 2 2 3.1.1 Straw man argument (3) 3.1.2 Begging the question (3) 3.1.3 Hasty generalization (3) 3.2 What type of informal fallacy is found in each of the following paragraphs? 3.2.1 Child to parent: ‘Your argument that I should stop stealing sweets from the corner store is no good. You told me yourself just a week ago that you too stole sweets when you were a child. So, let me steal sweets as well.’ (2) 3.2.2 ‘Surely you welcome the opportunity to join our protective organisation. Think of all the money you will lose from broken windows, overturned trucks and damaged merchandise in the event of you not joining.’ (2) 3.2.3 We've all heard the argument that too much television is the reason our students can't read and write. Yet, many of today's TV shows are excellent. ‘Seinfeld’ explores important issues facing single people, ‘Mzansi Magic’ presents medical professionals in life and death situations and ‘Checkpoint’ exposes a great variety of scams and illegal practises. Today's TV is just great! (2) 4. Argument Evaluation: 1. Evaluate the following two arguments. 2. In your evaluation, state whether the argument is inductive or deductive, value or