PHIL 140 Exam 1

True of False: One problem associated with ostensive definitions is that they are prone to error due to the imprecision of the method.

True or False: Precising definitions make vague terms more exact.

True or False: Ostensive definitions are especially effective for abstract ideas.

Consider the argument: Shamu is a whale. All whales are mammals, therefore, Shamu is a mammal.

The argument is

Consider the following argument, modified from an ESPN.com report on Notre Dame's football team in 2000:
Notre Dame will turn the ball over often this season, for they had 4 more turnovers than their opponents last year, and because the option is a high risk offense (with all of the pitching and pulling the ball out) and Battle [the Notre Dame quarterback] is inexperienced.

The conclusion of the argument is:

True or False: If you know that a deductive argument is valid and has a true conclusion, that implies that all of the premises are true.

If you know that a valid deductive argument has a false conclusion, what may be inferred about its premises?

True or False: A successful indirect proof includes a contradiction or an absurdity.

In which of the following situations should you seek evidence for support of the claim made?

Identify the letter of corresponding claim that needs more support.

An acquaintance (another WIU student or a coworker) tells you:

True or False The following is an argument:

Getting an education at WIU is a great value, because other four year institutions cost more, yet you have more contact with your professors at Western.

Identify an unstated (implicit) premise for the following argument.

Marijuana should not be legalized because it leads to the use of harder drugs, such as heroin.

Consider the following argument.

Severe laws against marijuana are more dangerous to society than the activity which they are designed to prevent. For encouragement of contempt for laws is more dangerous to society than occasional use of marijuana, and severe laws against marijuana do not discourage use of marijuana, but rather breed this contempt not only for drug laws, but for laws in general.

Which is the conclusion of the argument?

Identify what is wrong with the following argument.

Professor Staff said that he will give a lecture about heart failure in the biology lecture hall. It must be the case that a number of heart failures have occurred there recently.

Identify what is wrong with the following argument.

Some triangles are obtuse. Whatever is obtuse is ignorant. Therefore, some triangles are ignorant.

Consider the following definition:
'Poor' means having an annual income less than $8,000 and a net worth of less than $10,000.

What type of definition is this?

Consider the following definition:
'Fictional work' means either a poem, a play, a novel, or a short story.

Consider the following definition:
'Heat' means the energy associated with the random kinetic motion of the molecules of a substance.

What type of definition is this?

Consider the following definition:
'Diffident' means lacking confidence in oneself; characterized by modest reserve.

What type of definition is this?

Consider the following definition:
A solution is a 'base' if and only if litmus paper turns blue or remains blue when dipped in the solution.

What type of definition is this?

Consider the following definition:
'Tall basketball player' means a player who is more than 6'8" tall.

What type of definition is this?

9 years ago

Report issue