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) A) nine B) None of the answers are correct C) seven D) eight

Question

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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.

In the Following Argument, There Are _____ Premises (Including Subconclusions)