Chat with AIExam 4: Credibility
Giving at least one reason for your choice,discuss whose opinion on the foreign policy of the current administration is more credible.
a.a former U.S.president of the same political party as the current president
b.a former U.S.president not of the same political party as the current president
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Answered by Examlex AI CopilotThe opinion of a former U.S. president not of the same political party as the current president is more credible when discussing the foreign policy of the current administration. This is because a former president from a different political party is likely to provide a more objective and unbiased perspective on the foreign policy decisions of the current administration. They are less likely to be influenced by partisan politics and may offer a more balanced and critical analysis of the foreign policy actions taken by the current administration. Additionally, their experience and knowledge of foreign policy issues can provide valuable insights and a different viewpoint that can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the current administration's foreign policy.
In a brief essay,discuss how to handle a conflict between the opinions of experts who do not agree.
(32) Answered by Examlex AI CopilotWhen faced with a conflict between the opinions of experts who do not agree, it is important to approach the situation with an open mind and a willingness to consider all perspectives. One of the first steps in handling this type of conflict is to thoroughly research and understand the reasoning behind each expert's opinion. This may involve reading their published work, consulting with other experts in the field, and critically evaluating the evidence and arguments they present.
Once you have a clear understanding of each expert's position, it can be helpful to facilitate a discussion or debate between the experts in order to openly address the points of disagreement. This can provide an opportunity for each expert to present their case, respond to counterarguments, and potentially find common ground or areas of compromise.
In some cases, it may be necessary to seek out additional expertise or opinions in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the issue at hand. This could involve consulting with a neutral third party, such as a mediator or a panel of experts, to help facilitate a resolution.
Ultimately, when handling a conflict between the opinions of experts, it is important to prioritize the pursuit of truth and the advancement of knowledge. This may require setting aside personal biases, being open to changing one's own perspective, and being willing to accept that there may not always be a clear-cut answer. By approaching the conflict with humility, curiosity, and a commitment to intellectual integrity, it is possible to navigate disagreements between experts in a constructive and productive manner.
Based only on the information given in this biography,discuss the credibility and authority of the person described on each of the topics in the list that follows:
James A.Van Allen received a Ph.D.in physics from the University of Iowa in 1939.During World War II,he was a gunnery officer with the Pacific Fleet.After the war,he returned to the University of Iowa,where he became professor of physics and chairman of the Department of Physics and Astronomy.In 1958,during the mission of Explorer 1,the first successful U.S.Earth satellite,he discovered the radiation belts surrounding the Earth,that are named for him.He was the principal investigator for the space probe of Jupiter's radiation belts and one of the discoverers of the radiation belts of Saturn.He was chairman of the group that developed the Voyager and Galileo space missions and is currently principal investigator for the Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 projects.
a.the number of women employed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
b.the uses of satellites for national security purposes
c.the biological effects of ultraviolet radiation
d.the structure of comet tails
e.recent geological activity along faults in southern California
f.the impact of a manned space station on science and technology
We assume Van Allen's opinions on (f)would be very informed.He would also have great credibility on (d)and only slightly less on (c).His remarks on (b)would carry more weight than those of a layperson,but we would need further information about him before regarding him as an authority on (a)or (e).
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VerifiedWe assume Van Allen's opinions on (f)would be very informed.He would also have great credibility on (d)and only slightly less on (c).His remarks on (b)would carry more weight than those of a layperson,but we would need further information about him before regarding him as an authority on (a)or (e).
Assess the following as probably true,as probably false,as requiring further documentation before judgment,or as a claim that cannot properly be evaluated.Consider both the nature of the claim and the source.
Comment from an acquaintance:"I saw Bigfoot with my own eyes! It was huge!"
(32) In a brief essay,provide several topics on which you may not trust yourself to give a totally unbiased judgment,and explain.
(29) Exercise:List fifteen items that you believe to be true about current popular music.When you are finished,trade your list for that of a classmate.Place each item from your classmate's list into one of three categories:(1)those you believe to be true, (2)those you believe to be incorrect,and (3)those you are uncertain about.Next,explain to each other why you assigned the items as you did.Finally,based on this discussion,compile a third list that contains only those items from the original lists that both of you know to be correct.Submit this list to your instructor for any comments he or she might have.
(33) Assess the following as probably true,as probably false,as requiring further documentation before judgment,or as a claim that cannot properly be evaluated.Consider both the nature of the claim and the source.
From a letter to the editor by a person we've never heard of:"Eighty-five percent of the jail population smokes."
(30) Assess the following as probably true,as probably false,as requiring further documentation before judgment,or as a claim that cannot properly be evaluated.Consider both the nature of the claim and the source.
"NASA [the National Aeronautics and Space Administration] says private investors,not taxpayers,will fund its newest manned space vehicle.If you believe that,you probably think little green men inhabit Mars."
-Forbes
(36) Fallible or not,our firsthand observations are still the best source of information we have.
(29) Reference works such as dictionaries are utterly reliable sources of information-otherwise they wouldn't be reference works.
(35) Based only on the information given in this biography,discuss the credibility and authority of the person described on each of the topics in the list that follows:
David A.Kilbourne taught himself to program in three different computer languages by the time he was sixteen.At seventeen,he was a member of a loose-knit southern California group of computer "hackers" that specialized in tapping the databases of large corporations,including the telephone company and several banks.In 1994,Kilbourne was charged with using his home computer and a telephone communications device to manipulate data in the Pacific Bell Telephone database to avoid telephone bills for his household and those of several friends for almost two years.It was also discovered that he had savings accounts at two Bank of America branches,with balances totaling over seventy thousand dollars,despite never having made a deposit or even "officially" opening the accounts.Kilbourne was found guilty on several counts of defrauding the two companies and was put on three years' probation.During his probation,Bank of America hired him as a consultant to assess the security of its computer files,a job at which he worked for nearly a year.He now works for a legitimate software house in the Silicon Valley.(Asked which side of the law he preferred working on,Kilbourne replied,"Everything considered,being an outlaw was more fun.")
a.the morality of software piracy
b.corporate data banks
c.telecommunications
d.purchasing a computer for a small business
e.electronic games
f.computer programming
We'd listen to Kilbourne with attention on topics (b), (c),and (f),and we'd give his opinions more weight than our own on (d)and (e).We think we could get better authority on (a).
(28) Factual claims put forth by experts about subjects outside their fields are not automatically more acceptable than claims put forth by nonexperts.
(38) In a brief essay,discuss three ways a person can increase his or her background knowledge.
(33) For the following issue,discuss which source you'd trust more,and give at least one reason why.You may want to add to or otherwise modify our list of sources.And do keep in mind that we are glad our livelihoods do not depend on a general consensus on our rankings.
Issue:Whether a recently completed nuclear power plant is safe.
a.the power company that owns the plant
b.the contractor in charge of the plant's construction
c.a spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Agency
d.the president of the Sierra Club
e.a contractor hired by a nearby city who has seen the blueprints of the plant but has not made an on-site inspection
f.the author of a statistical study on safety,malfunctions,and accidents at power plants of the same type
(37) Assess the following as probably true,as probably false,as requiring further documentation before judgment,or as a claim that cannot properly be evaluated.Consider both the nature of the claim and the source.
"A few years ago AT&T did two surveys showing that technically trained persons did not achieve as many top managerial jobs in the company as liberal arts graduates did."
-New York Times
(32) Assess the following as probably true,as probably false,as requiring further documentation before judgment,or as a claim that cannot properly be evaluated.Consider both the nature of the claim and the source.
"Warning:St.John [in the Virgin Islands] is very much a 'cash only' island.Most restaurants and car rental agencies accept cash or travelers checks only."
-Janet Fullwood,travel writer for the Dallas Times Herald
(31) Keeping in mind the sources cited,discuss the credibility of the claim(s)made in the following passage:
"The mail order company Hammacher Schlemmer & Co.says in its consumer catalogs that it sells nothing but the best.The company supports its claims by what it calls independent testing.But Bruce Nash and Allan Zullo,in a book called The Mis-Fortune 500 (New York:Pocket Books,1988),say that while a 1986 letter to potential customers claimed that a "completely separate" "consumer" organization tested and compared the products offered by Hammacher Schlemmer,in reality:
"The testing organization is called the Hammacher Schlemmer Institute.
"The institute is funded by Hammacher Schlemmer & Co.
"The institute's board of directors is composed of Hammacher Schlemmer officials.
"The institute is located at Hammacher Schlemmer company headquarters in Chicago."
(36) In a brief essay,explain why you suppose sensationalism (as found in supermarket tabloids,for example)has such a wide audience despite its frequent conflicts with our background information.
(35) Assess the following as probably true,as probably false,as requiring further documentation before judgment,or as a claim that cannot properly be evaluated.Consider both the nature of the claim and the source.
Barack Obama is a citizen of both the United States and the Republic of Kenya.
-an online article run in August,2008,by the Rocky Mountain News
(34) Assess the following as probably true,as probably false,as requiring further documentation before judgment,or as a claim that cannot properly be evaluated.Consider both the nature of the claim and the source.
"In the early 1800s,bears were a nuisance to settlers in upstate New York."
-Smithsonian
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