Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

If inductive arguments succeed in lending very probable support to their conclusions, they are said to be strong, not weak. Weak inductive arguments fail to provide probable support to their conclusions.

Question 2

An argument is not synonymous with causes.

Accepted Answer

The answer of An argument is not synonymous with causes....

Question 3

A good deductive argument is said to be cogent.

Accepted Answer

A good deductive argument is said to be valid and sound, not cogent. Cogency applies to inductive arguments.

Question 4

A good inductive argument is said to be strong.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A good inductive argument is said to...

Question 5

Modus tollens is a valid argument form.

Accepted Answer

Modus tollens is a valid form of logical argument that states if P implies Q and Q is false, then P must also be false.

Question 6

An argument of this form-If p, then q; p; therefore, q-is called modus tollens.

Accepted Answer

The argument form described is called modus ponens, not modus tollens. Modus tollens is the form: If p, then q; not q; therefore, not p.

Question 7

An argument of this form- If p, then q; not p; therefore, not q -is called modus ponens.

Accepted Answer

The correct form for modus ponens is: If p, then q; p; therefore, q. The form described in the question is a logical fallacy known as denying the antecedent.

Question 8

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.

Accepted Answer

Inference to the best explanation involves arguing that a particular hypothesis is true because it best explains a set of observations or facts, rather than simply inferring similarities between things.

Question 9

This argument form-phenomenon Q; E provides the best explanation for Q; therefore, it is probable that E is true-is called analogical induction.

Accepted Answer

This argument form is better described as an inference to the best explanation, not analogical induction. Analogical induction involves inferring that because two or more things are similar in some respects, they are likely to be similar in some other respect.

Question 10

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.

Accepted Answer

Reading a philosophical essay involves engaging with the author's arguments, considering the implications of their ideas, and critically analyzing the reasoning behind their conclusions, rather than just extracting facts.

Question 11

The key to identifying an argument in context is to first identify the author.

Accepted Answer

The key to identifying an argument in context is to first identify the conclusion and the premises that support it, not necessarily the author.

Question 12

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.

Accepted Answer

This argument is circular because it assumes the existence of God to prove the existence of God, without providing independent evidence for God's existence outside of the claim itself.

Question 13

Empedocles articulated the basic outlines of natural selection twenty-five centuries ago.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Empedocles articulated the basic outlines of natural...

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

Philosophy provides critical thinking tools and ethical frameworks that are applicable to analyzing and proposing solutions to modern social problems, including racism.

Question 15

In ancient times, Theano was the wife and learned companion of Socrates.

Accepted Answer

Theano was actually associated with Pythagoras, not Socrates. She was considered one of the female Pythagorean philosophers.

Question 16

If you base your judgments solely on evidence that's easily psychologically accessible, you are likely to commit hasty generalizations.

Accepted Answer

Basing judgments solely on easily accessible evidence can lead to hasty generalizations because it may not represent the full picture or variety of cases, leading to overly broad conclusions drawn from limited or biased information.

Question 17

If you arrive at a belief using motivated reasoning, your belief is false.

Accepted Answer

Motivated reasoning refers to the process of forming conclusions based on desires or motivations rather than objective evidence. While it can lead to biased or inaccurate beliefs, it does not inherently mean the belief is false; the conclusion could coincidentally be true.

Question 18

Psychologically available evidence is reliable because vivid memories and the like constitute strong evidence.

Accepted Answer

Vivid memories and strong emotional experiences do not necessarily equate to reliable evidence, as they can be subject to distortions, biases, and inaccuracies.

Question 19

The Dunning-Kruger Effect is not limited to logical reasoning, but also to emotional intelligence and social awareness.

Accepted Answer

The Dunning-Kruger Effect, which describes how people with limited knowledge or ability in a domain overestimate their own competence, applies not only to cognitive tasks like logical reasoning but also to areas such as emotional intelligence and social awareness. People can overestimate their ability to understand and manage emotions or navigate social situations, similar to how they might overestimate their knowledge or skills in more traditionally academic or technical fields.

Question 20

Exceptionally smart people almost never engage in motivated reasoning since such people are usually aware of their own biases.

Accepted Answer

Exceptionally smart people, despite being aware of their biases, can still engage in motivated reasoning due to emotional investments, ego, or the desire to maintain beliefs they find comforting or beneficial. Intelligence does not make one immune to cognitive biases.

Quiz 1: Philosophy and You