PHIL 115B, Spring 2008
Mon., Mar. 31
2 points
Give an example of a statement.
Some examples of correct answers:
| Today is Sunday. | All fish are mammals. | The sky is blue. | My name is Albert. |
Tue., Apr. 1
2 points
(From p. 26, 1.2, I, 21)
State whether the following passage is an argument or not. If it is an argument, identify the conclusion. If not, state what kind of nonargument it is.
Dachshunds are ideal dogs for small children, as they are already stretched and pulled to such a length that the child cannot do much harm one way or the other.
Answer: Argument. Conclusion: Dachshunds are ideal dogs for small children.
Wed., Apr. 2
2 points
(From p. 39, 1.3, I, 26)
Determine whether the following argument is best interpreted as inductive or deductive. Also, state the criteria you use in reaching your decision.
Eternity is simultaneously whole. But time has a before and an after. Therefore time and eternity are not the same thing.
Answer: Deductive. True premises guarantee a true conclusion. Also, the form is deductive (it is an argument from definition, based on the definition of "same").
Thu., Apr. 3
2 points
(From p. 52, 1.4, III, 20)
State whether the following argument is inductive or deductive. If inductive, state whether it is strong or weak. If deductive, state whether it is valid or invalid.
Since Michael is a Pisces, it necessarily follows that he was born in March.
Answer: Deductive, invalid (The form seems to be argument from definition, and in addition but less importantly, the indicator language is deductive. Since Pisces dates range from Feb. 20 to March 20, the argument is invalid.)
If you think this is an inductive argument (one that uses overly emphatic indicator language), then you should think the argument is more strong than weak. There are 20 Pisces days in March, and only 8 or 9 Pisces days in February.
Mon., Apr. 7
2 points
(From p. 464, 9.1, II, 5, j)
Susan is considering a job as public relations specialist with the Chamber of Commerce. Her friend Terry took such a job one year ago, and within nine months her annual salary was $50,000. Susan argues that if she takes this job, then her annual salary will be at least $50,000 within nine months. How does the following fact bear on Susan's argument?
Susan changes her conclusion to state that after nine months she will be earning at least $47,000.
Answer: Strengthens
Explanation: Her new conclusion sets the bar lower, making the goal easier to attain. In other words, the new conclusion reduces the distance to the goal, thereby strengthening the argument.
Tue., Apr. 8
2 points
Which one of Mill's methods uses exactly two rows?
Answer: The method of difference
Wed., Apr. 9
2 points
(From p. 503, 9.3, I, 7)
Given an urn containing three red balls, four green balls, and five yellow balls, what is the probability of drawing a red ball on a single draw?
Answer: 3/12, or 1/4
Thu., Apr. 10
2 points
Which rule of the probability calculus requires independent events?
Answer: Restricted Conjunction Rule
Mon., Apr. 14
4 points
Name three measures of dispersion.
Answer: Range, variance, standard deviation.
Tue., Apr. 15
2 points
Fill in the blank: Finding out that the implications of a hypothesis are true ______________ that hypothesis.
Answer: tends to confirm; lends credibility to
Wed., Apr. 16
2 points
What is pareidolia?
Answer: The effect by which people recognize images (such as faces or animals) in clouds or other media.
©2008 by Gabriela Remow
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