Question 1

Redundant statements should be numbered and included in argument diagrams, but no arrow should be drawn from them to any conclusion or subconclusion.

Accepted Answer

Redundant statements should not be included in argument diagrams because they do not contribute to the structure or logic of the argument being diagrammed.

Question 2

The premises are independent in the following argument: "No rock stars are shuffleboard players. Mick is a rock star. So, Mick isn't a shuffleboard player."

Accepted Answer

The premises are not independent because the conclusion is derived from the combination of both premises, indicating a dependency between them.

Question 3

A good paraphrase is clear, concise, accurate, and charitable.

Accepted Answer

A good paraphrase accurately conveys the original message in a clear and concise manner, while also being fair and considerate to the original author's intent.

Question 4

In standardizing arguments, one should not _____.

Accepted Answer

In standardizing arguments, it's important to ensure that all components are clear, relevant, and properly structured. This means excluding anything that isn't a statement (such as questions or commands), ensuring all parts are either premises or conclusions, and avoiding incomplete sentences to maintain clarity and coherence.

Question 5

_____ in the following argument: "Bill will drive if Heather doesn't drive. But Heather won't drive, because she lost her driver's license and her right leg is in a cast. Therefore, Bill will drive."

Accepted Answer

The answer of _____ in the following argument: "Bill will...

Question 6

To _____ an argument means to break it up into its various parts to see clearly what conclusion is being defended and on what grounds.

Accepted Answer

To analyze an argument involves breaking it down into its component parts to understand the structure of the argument, including its conclusion and the evidence or reasons supporting that conclusion.

Question 7

Which of the following should be included in an argument standardization?

Accepted Answer

Missing premises or conclusions are often included in an argument standardization to make the argument complete and logically coherent.

Question 8

The premises are linked in the following argument: "If Speedy is a lizard, then Speedy is a reptile. Speedy is a lizard. So, Speedy is a reptile."

Accepted Answer

The premises logically lead to the conclusion, demonstrating a valid form of argument known as modus ponens.

Question 9

Which of the following tips is most likely to help diagram arguments like a pro?

Accepted Answer

Identifying sentences with "and" helps break down complex statements into simpler, separate components, which is crucial for diagramming arguments effectively.

Question 10

There are two statements asserted in the sentence "Either Paul walks to school, or he rides his bike to school."

Accepted Answer

The answer of There are two statements asserted in the...

Question 11

Two premises are linked if _____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Two premises are linked if _____.
...

Question 12

_____ should be omitted from argument diagrams.

Accepted Answer

Logically irrelevant statements and redundant statements should be omitted from argument diagrams because they do not contribute to the structure or the understanding of the argument's logic.

Question 13

In the following argument, there are _____ premises (including subconclusions) that should be diagrammed: "If souls die, they must die either by decomposing or by annihilation. But what is not composed cannot decompose. And souls are not composed. Therefore souls cannot decompose. And nothing is annihilated as a whole. Therefore souls are not annihilated as a whole. Thus souls do not die either by decomposition or annihilation. Thus souls do not die." (Peter Kreeft and Ronald K. Tacelli, Handbook of Christian Apologetics)

Accepted Answer

The argument contains seven premises (including subconclusions) that should be diagrammed: 1) If souls die, they must die either by decomposing or by annihilation. 2) What is not composed cannot decompose. 3) Souls are not composed. 4) Therefore, souls cannot decompose. 5) Nothing is annihilated as a whole. 6) Therefore, souls are not annihilated as a whole. 7) Thus, souls do not die either by decomposition or annihilation, leading to the final conclusion that souls do not die.

Question 14

Two premises A and B are linked just in case A and B, taken together, provide more support for the conclusion than either premise provides by itself.

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately describes how premises are linked in an argument. When two premises are linked, they work together to support a conclusion in a way that is stronger than the support provided by either premise on its own. This interdependence is what distinguishes linked premises from independent premises, which each provide separate support for the conclusion.

Question 15

The sentence "If I'm in Oklahoma City, then I'm in Oklahoma" expresses two statements rather than one.

Accepted Answer

The sentence expresses a single conditional statement, linking the condition of being in Oklahoma City to the consequence of being in Oklahoma.

Question 16

The premises in the following argument are independent: "Dogs make better pets than cats. They're smarter, more sociable, and easier to train."

Accepted Answer

The premises are independent because they do not rely on each other to be true. Each premise makes a separate claim about dogs being better pets than cats.

Question 17

In the context of filling in missing information in an enthymeme, being _____ means interpreting the argument as generously as possible.

Accepted Answer

Being charitable in the context of filling in missing information in an enthymeme involves interpreting the argument as generously as possible, aiming to construct the strongest version of the argument.

Question 18

Missing premises and conclusions should not be included in argument standardizations.

Accepted Answer

In argument standardization, missing premises (assumptions that are not explicitly stated but are necessary for the argument to hold) and conclusions should be included to fully represent the argument's logical structure. This helps in understanding, analyzing, and evaluating the argument accurately.

Question 19

The premises in the following argument are linked: "Lake Jean is at a higher elevation than Lake Wallenpaupak, because Lake Francis is at a higher elevation than Lake Wallenpaupak and Lake Jean is at a higher elevation than Lake Francis."

Accepted Answer

The premises are linked because the conclusion that Lake Jean is at a higher elevation than Lake Wallenpaupak depends on the combination of both premises: that Lake Francis is higher than Lake Wallenpaupak and that Lake Jean is higher than Lake Francis.

Question 20

An argument in which each step in the argument is numbered consecutively, premises are stated above the conclusions they are claimed to support, and justifications are provided for each conclusion in the argument is said to be in _____.

Accepted Answer

Standard logical form organizes an argument by numbering each step, stating premises above conclusions, and providing justifications for each conclusion, facilitating clear understanding and analysis of the argument's structure and validity.

Quiz 7: Analyzing Arguments