#1
What is the principle of charity in argumentation?
Always interpret an argument in its strongest, most reasonable form.
ExplanationThis principle encourages interpreting arguments to maximize their logical coherence and strength.
#2
What is the purpose of a premise in a logical argument?
To provide evidence or reasons in support of the conclusion.
ExplanationPremises serve as the foundation upon which logical arguments are built.
#3
In logic, what is a tautology?
A statement that is necessarily true.
ExplanationA statement that is true by definition.
#4
Which statement is an example of a deductive argument?
All mammals have fur, and cats are mammals, so cats have fur.
ExplanationDeductive arguments derive specific conclusions from general premises.
#5
In a syllogism, what are the two premises and the conclusion?
Major premise, minor premise, conclusion
ExplanationSyllogisms consist of two premises that lead to a conclusion.
#6
Which of the following is an example of a valid deductive argument?
If it is daytime, then it is not nighttime. It is daytime, therefore it is not nighttime.
ExplanationA valid deductive argument follows logically from its premises to its conclusion.
#7
Which type of reasoning is based on specific observations and evidence?
Inductive reasoning
ExplanationInductive reasoning derives general conclusions from specific observations.
#8
What is the fallacy of affirming the consequent?
Arguing that if A, then B. A is true, therefore B is true.
ExplanationThis fallacy wrongly assumes that if a consequence is true, its antecedent must also be true.
#9
What is the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning?
Inductive reasoning starts with specific observations and derives a general conclusion, while deductive reasoning starts with a general statement and applies it to specific cases.
ExplanationInductive reasoning generalizes from specific instances, while deductive reasoning applies general principles to specific cases.
#10
What is the purpose of a counterexample in logic?
To refute the conclusion of an argument by providing an example where the premises are true, but the conclusion is false.
ExplanationCounterexamples challenge the validity or soundness of an argument by showing it does not hold in all cases.
#11
Which logical fallacy is committed in the following statement: 'If we ban assault weapons, soon the government will ban all firearms.'?
Slippery slope
ExplanationThis statement assumes a chain reaction of events without sufficient evidence.
#12
What is the contrapositive of the statement 'If it is raining, then the ground is wet'?
If the ground is not wet, then it is not raining.
ExplanationThe contrapositive of a statement swaps and negates its parts.
#13
What is the Law of Excluded Middle in logic?
Every proposition is either true or false.
ExplanationThis principle states that there is no middle ground between true and false.
#14
What is a valid disjunctive syllogism?
Either it is raining or the ground is wet. It is not raining, therefore the ground is not wet.
ExplanationThis argument infers a negative conclusion from a negative premise in a disjunctive statement.
#15
Which fallacy is committed in the following statement: 'Some doctors smoke, so smoking must be good for your health.'?
Hasty generalization
ExplanationThis fallacy draws a broad conclusion from a limited sample size.
#16
What is the difference between a valid and a sound deductive argument?
A valid argument has a true conclusion, while a sound argument has both true premises and a true conclusion.
ExplanationValidity ensures logical structure, while soundness additionally requires true premises.
#17
What is the fallacy of composition?
Assuming that what is true for the part is true for the whole.
ExplanationThis fallacy incorrectly infers properties of a whole from properties of its parts.