Writing Homework Help

I’m working on a philosophy discussion question and need an explanation to help me study.

Written Response 2 Testing Arguments, Ch. 3

Let’s look at some arguments. Tell me as much as you can about each one. For example, you can tell me its form, and that you recognize it as, say, Modus Ponens. Then you can try to evaluate its soundness as well. If you recognized it as MP then you know it is valid. If you recognized it as Affirming the Consequent, the you know it is invalid. You may not find a form. If you do not, this is the time to use the Indirect Test!! See Lecture on this. You can then proceed to tell me about its soundness. You can say things like, “the premises appear to be false, so this would make it unsound.” Or, “I don’t know if the premises are true or false, so if they are true the argument would be, let’s say, valid and sound, or if they are false, then it would be, say, valid and unsound.” You must justify you answer with a test procedure. Below are some exercises to try:

1) Everyone who is well-educated knows about the existence of the Roman Empire, and John is well-educated. So, John must know something about the Roman Empire.

Valid Invalid

Explain Why

Sound Unsound

Explain Why

2) Since Christmas is always on a Thursday, if follows that the day after Christmas is always a Friday.

Valid Invalid

Explain Why

Sound Unsound

Explain Why

Here are a few that Inductive:

3) Look at the footprints in the mud by the window. We must have a peeping tom.

Strong Weak

Explain Why

Cogent Uncogent

Explain Why

4) Every sample of copper ever examined conducts electricity. So it is a safe bet that this particular piece of copper will conduct electricity when we examine it.

Strong Weak

Explain Why

Cogent Uncogent

Explain Why