Question 1 

1. The three parts of an argument are      _____________, inference, and conclusion:

 

truth value

 

premises

 

deduction

 

reasoning

3 points

Question 2 

1. The law of excluded middle states

 

something cannot   both be and not be at the same time

 

the middle term   must be distributed in the premises at least once

 

something either is   or is not

 

something is what   it is

3 points

Question 3 

1. According to the reading, even God      cannot create a contradiction.

True

False

3 points

Question 4 

1. A mixed hypothetical syllogism in      which the premise denies the consequent is called:

 

Modus ponens

 

Categorical

 

Disjunctive

 

Modus tollens

3 points

Question 5 

1. The Latin phrase that means ‘it      does not follow’ is:

 

3 points

Question 6 

1. This may be the most well-known      fallacy of presumption:

 

bifurcation

 

red-herring

 

begging the question

 

hasty generalization

3 points

Question 7 

1. This fallacy is sometimes referred      to as the false dilemma:

 

straw man

 

bifurcation

 

red herring

 

special pleading

3 points

Question 8 

1. Identify the fallacy: The Bible      says we should do to others what we would have them to do for us.      Therefore I have no problem sharing the questions and answers of this quiz      with another student.

 

special pleading

 

tu quogue

 

sweeping   generalization

 

red herring

3 points

Question 9 

1. “Begging the question” is a      fallacy of presumption.

True

False

3 points

Question 10 

1. Identify the fallacy: He’s the      third student I’ve caught cheating on the test. It just proves that you      can’t trust students these days.

 

hasty   generalization

 

straw man

 

ad hominem

 

division

3 points

Question 11 

1. Occam’s razor says:

 

the best explanation is usually   philosophical

 

the best argument is usually   comprehensive

 

the strongest argument is usually the   positive/negative approach

 

the simplest explanation is usually   the best

3 points

Question 12 

1. The principle of simplicity says      we should try to simplify complex arguments.

True

False

3 points

Question 13 

1. A best explanation approach is      often the best way to argue because many issues in philosophy do not have      perfect solutions.

True

False

3 points

Question 14 

1. Which of the following should we      do first in our analysis of the ‘validity’ of an argument?

 

determine if these   premises lead to this conclusion

 

determine if the   premises are true

 

determine if there   are any informal fallacies

 

determine if we   agree with the conclusion before evaluating the validity or strength of the argument

3 points

Question 15 

1. The term for beliefs relating      together in a way that is mutually supportive:

 

consistency

 

coherence

 

comprehensive

 

constancy

3 points

Question 16 

1. An inference drawn from      statistical reasoning is deductive.

True

False

3 points

Question 17 

1. In a deductive syllogism, if the      premises are true and the conclusion is true, then the argument is valid.

True

False

3 points

Question 18 

1. The formal procedure for writing      out a deductive argument is called

 

an analogy

 

a syllogism

 

a hypothesis

 

a formulation

3 points

Question 19 

1. Type of argument that begins with      a problem with an unknown explanation, forms a theory and tests the      theory.

 

deductive syllogism

 

probability calculus

 

hypothetical reasoning

 

statistical reasoning

3 points

Question 20 

1. An argument may be evaluated as      “true” or “false.”

True

False