Question 1

In your own words, explain the difference among cogency, validity, and soundness.

Accepted Answer

Cogency, validity, and soundness are all

Question 2

What does it mean for a premise to be acceptable? In your own words, explain at least six different ways that a premise can be acceptable.

Accepted Answer

For a premise to be acceptable, it means

Question 3

A true premise is NOT always acceptable.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

A premise in an argument is relevant to that argument's conclusion if:

Accepted Answer

A)  The premise is related to the argument's conclusion. 
B)  The truth of the premise counts in favor of the argument's conclusion. 
C)  The truth of the premise guarantees the truth of the argument's conclusion. 
D)  The premise is acceptable whenever the conclusion is acceptable. 
A)  The premise is related to the argument's conclusion. 
B)  The truth of the premise counts in favor of the argument's conclusion. 
C)  The truth of the premise guarantees the truth of the argument's conclusion. 
D)  The premise is acceptable whenever the conclusion is acceptable.

Question 5

Some arguments have multiple premises that provide independent reasons to believe the conclusion.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Someone commits the fallacy of wishful thinking when he or she:

Accepted Answer

A)  Argues that a claim is true because it can't be proven false. 
B)  Argues that a claim is true on the grounds that it would be good if it were true. 
C)  Insists on taking a positive attitude even when the evidence doesn't justify it. 
D)  Insists on thinking that an argument is cogent when it is not. 
A)  Argues that a claim is true because it can't be proven false. 
B)  Argues that a claim is true on the grounds that it would be good if it were true. 
C)  Insists on taking a positive attitude even when the evidence doesn't justify it. 
D)  Insists on thinking that an argument is cogent when it is not.

Question 7

Consider this argument, adapted from the film The Princess Bride: "There's no way we can storm the castle. If we had a giant cloak, we could storm the castle. But we don't have a giant cloak." Rewrite that argument as a numbered list of claims, clearly indicating which claim is the conclusion.

Accepted Answer

1. We need a giant cloak to st

Question 8

Evaluate the following argument, adapted from the economist Allison Schrager: "Many Americans would be healthier if they got more exercise, but they have trouble motivating themselves to go to the gym. Most people would go to the gym more often if they were paying a lot of money for their gym membership. Therefore, most people would be healthier if they joined a very expensive gym."

Accepted Answer

The argument presented suggests a causal

Question 9

Suppose a toddler pulls a dog's tail and the dog growls at her. If the toddler's parent says, "The dog growled because you pulled his tail," this would be:

Accepted Answer

A)  An argument because the parent is trying to convince the toddler not to pull the dog's tail. 
B)  An explanation because the parent is trying to help the toddler understand why the dog growled. 
C)  An argument because the parent is trying to convince the toddler that it's true that the dog growled. 
D)  An explanation because the parent is trying to teach the toddler how to use the word growl. 
A)  An argument because the parent is trying to convince the toddler not to pull the dog's tail. 
B)  An explanation because the parent is trying to help the toddler understand why the dog growled. 
C)  An argument because the parent is trying to convince the toddler that it's true that the dog growled. 
D)  An explanation because the parent is trying to teach the toddler how to use the word growl.

Question 10

An argument is often, but not always, used to convince someone that something is true.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a claim, as that term is defined in Chapter 1 of Moral Reasoning?

Accepted Answer

A)  The city of Paris, Texas, is smaller than the city of Paris, France. 
B)  The planet Venus had intelligent life on it 1.5 billion years ago. 
C)  Humpback whales are the largest species of fish. 
D)  Haven't I asked you a million times to do the dishes!? 
A)  The city of Paris, Texas, is smaller than the city of Paris, France. 
B)  The planet Venus had intelligent life on it 1.5 billion years ago. 
C)  Humpback whales are the largest species of fish. 
D)  Haven't I asked you a million times to do the dishes!?

Question 12

Any premise that is acceptable because you can know it's true just by thinking about it is known to be true by definition.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

The premises of an argument are sufficient if:

Accepted Answer

A)  There is sufficient reason to believe those premises. 
B)  There are enough premises in the argument. 
C)  The premises, taken together, give a strong enough reason to accept the conclusion. 
D)  The premises, taken together, prove the conclusion with certainty. 
A)  There is sufficient reason to believe those premises. 
B)  There are enough premises in the argument. 
C)  The premises, taken together, give a strong enough reason to accept the conclusion. 
D)  The premises, taken together, prove the conclusion with certainty.

Question 14

An argument is a set of claims, one of which is supposed to follow logically from the other(s).

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

An argument always contains at least two premises.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Consider the following argument: "Donald Trump was born in Russia. If a person is born in Russia, then that person is not eligible to be president of the United States. Therefore, Donald Trump is not eligible to be president of the United States." This argument:

Accepted Answer

A)  Is invalid because it is possible for someone to be born in Russia but still be eligible to be president of the United States. 
B)  Is valid but unsound because it is false that Donald Trump was born in Russia. 
C)  Is valid but unsound because not everyone knows the rules about who is eligible to be president of the United States. 
D)  Is invalid but sound because although some people might not know where Donald Trump was born, the premises are still true. 
A)  Is invalid because it is possible for someone to be born in Russia but still be eligible to be president of the United States. 
B)  Is valid but unsound because it is false that Donald Trump was born in Russia. 
C)  Is valid but unsound because not everyone knows the rules about who is eligible to be president of the United States. 
D)  Is invalid but sound because although some people might not know where Donald Trump was born, the premises are still true.

Question 17

Which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  All valid arguments are sound. 
B)  All sound arguments are valid. 
C)  All cogent arguments are sound. 
D)  All sound arguments are cogent. 
A)  All valid arguments are sound. 
B)  All sound arguments are valid. 
C)  All cogent arguments are sound. 
D)  All sound arguments are cogent.

Question 18

A fallacy is:

Accepted Answer

A)  An argument that superficially appears to be a good argument but actually violates at least one of the three criteria for argument evaluation. 
B)  An argument that fails to satisfy any of the three criteria for argument evaluation. 
C)  A cogent argument that is neither valid nor sound. 
D)  A valid argument that is not cogent. 
A)  An argument that superficially appears to be a good argument but actually violates at least one of the three criteria for argument evaluation. 
B)  An argument that fails to satisfy any of the three criteria for argument evaluation. 
C)  A cogent argument that is neither valid nor sound. 
D)  A valid argument that is not cogent.

Question 19

An irrelevant premise in an argument:

Accepted Answer

A)  Gives you no reason to believe the argument's conclusion. 
B)  Would give you a reason to believe the argument's conclusion if it were true. 
C)  Might be true, but you do not have a good enough reason to believe it. 
D)  Gives you some reason to believe the argument's conclusion, but not a sufficient reason. 
A)  Gives you no reason to believe the argument's conclusion. 
B)  Would give you a reason to believe the argument's conclusion if it were true. 
C)  Might be true, but you do not have a good enough reason to believe it. 
D)  Gives you some reason to believe the argument's conclusion, but not a sufficient reason.

Question 20

An argument's premises are insufficient if, taken together, they do not give a good enough reason to accept its conclusion.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

In your own words, explain the difference among cogency, validity, and soundness.

What does it mean for a premise to be acceptable? In your own words, explain at least six different ways that a premise can be acceptable.

A true premise is NOT always acceptable.

A premise in an argument is relevant to that argument's conclusion if:

Some arguments have multiple premises that provide independent reasons to believe the conclusion.

Someone commits the fallacy of wishful thinking when he or she:

Consider this argument, adapted from the film The Princess Bride: "There's no way we can storm the castle. If we had a giant cloak, we could storm the castle. But we don't have a giant cloak." Rewrite that argument as a numbered list of claims, clearly indicating which claim is the conclusion.

Suppose a toddler pulls a dog's tail and the dog growls at her. If the toddler's parent says, "The dog growled because you pulled his tail," this would be:

An argument is often, but not always, used to convince someone that something is true.

Which of the following is NOT a claim, as that term is defined in Chapter 1 of Moral Reasoning?

Any premise that is acceptable because you can know it's true just by thinking about it is known to be true by definition.

The premises of an argument are sufficient if:

An argument is a set of claims, one of which is supposed to follow logically from the other(s).

An argument always contains at least two premises.

Consider the following argument: "Donald Trump was born in Russia. If a person is born in Russia, then that person is not eligible to be president of the United States. Therefore, Donald Trump is not eligible to be president of the United States." This argument:

Which of the following is true?

A fallacy is:

An irrelevant premise in an argument:

An argument's premises are insufficient if, taken together, they do not give a good enough reason to accept its conclusion.

Moral Arguments

Reasoning With Obligations

Reasoning About Consequences

Reasoning With Virtues and Vices

Reasoning With Principles and Counterexamples

Reasoning With Analogies

Answering Moral Questions

Skepticism, Subjectivism, and Relativism

Religion and Moral Reasoning

Normative Theories, Part 1

Normative Theories, Part 2

Aristotle's Ethics: Exploring Virtue and Justice

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Exam 1: An Introduction to Arguments

In your own words, explain the difference among cogency, validity, and soundness.

What does it mean for a premise to be acceptable? In your own words, explain at least six different ways that a premise can be acceptable.

A true premise is NOT always acceptable.

A premise in an argument is relevant to that argument's conclusion if:

Some arguments have multiple premises that provide independent reasons to believe the conclusion.

Someone commits the fallacy of wishful thinking when he or she:

Consider this argument, adapted from the film The Princess Bride: "There's no way we can storm the castle. If we had a giant cloak, we could storm the castle. But we don't have a giant cloak." Rewrite that argument as a numbered list of claims, clearly indicating which claim is the conclusion.

Suppose a toddler pulls a dog's tail and the dog growls at her. If the toddler's parent says, "The dog growled because you pulled his tail," this would be:

An argument is often, but not always, used to convince someone that something is true.

Which of the following is NOT a claim, as that term is defined in Chapter 1 of Moral Reasoning?

Any premise that is acceptable because you can know it's true just by thinking about it is known to be true by definition.

The premises of an argument are sufficient if:

An argument is a set of claims, one of which is supposed to follow logically from the other(s).

An argument always contains at least two premises.

Consider the following argument: "Donald Trump was born in Russia. If a person is born in Russia, then that person is not eligible to be president of the United States. Therefore, Donald Trump is not eligible to be president of the United States." This argument:

Which of the following is true?

A fallacy is:

An irrelevant premise in an argument:

An argument's premises are insufficient if, taken together, they do not give a good enough reason to accept its conclusion.

Moral Arguments

Reasoning With Obligations

Reasoning About Consequences

Reasoning With Virtues and Vices

Reasoning With Principles and Counterexamples

Reasoning With Analogies

Answering Moral Questions

Skepticism, Subjectivism, and Relativism

Religion and Moral Reasoning

Normative Theories, Part 1

Normative Theories, Part 2

Aristotle's Ethics: Exploring Virtue and Justice

Filters