Chapter 4

Question 1

Statement

Answer 1

An assertion that something is or is not the case. It is either true or false.

Question 2

Argument

Answer 2

When at least one statement attempts to provide reasons for believing another statement.

A group of statements, one of which is supposed to be supported by the rest

Question 3

Premises

Answer 3

Supporting statements in an argument.

Question 4

Conclusion

Answer 4

The statement being supported by the premises in an argument.

Question 5

Indicator words

Answer 5

Terms that often appear in arguments and signal that a premise or conclusion may be nearby

Question 6

Argumentation

Answer 6

The presentation of an argument

Question 7

Persuasion

Answer 7

To persuade someone or something is to influence their opinion by any number of means, including emotional appeals, linguistic or rhetorical tricks, deception, threats, propaganda.

Question 8

Deductive Arguments

Answer 8

Supposed to give logically conclusive support to their conclusions

Question 9

Inductive Arguments

Answer 9

Offer only probable support for their conclusions

Question 10

Valid

Answer 10

If the premises are true, then the conclusion has to be true.

Question 11

Invalid

Answer 11

When a deductive argument does not offer conclusive support for the conclusion

Question 12

Strong argument

Answer 12

An inductive argument that manages to actually give probable support to the conclusion

Question 13

Weak (argument)

Answer 13

An inductive argument that does not give probable support to the conclusion.

Question 14

Sound (argument)

Answer 14

Valid argument with true premises

Question 15

Cogent (argument)

Answer 15

A strong argument with true premises

Question 16

Conditional (argument)

Answer 16

A conditional argument has at least one conditional premise

Question 17

Antecedent

Answer 17

Part one of a conditional argument. Begins with “if”

Question 18

Consequent

Answer 18

Second part of a conditional argument. “then” that follows “if”

Question 19

Modus Ponens

Answer 19

The second premises confirms the first conditional premises.

Question 20

Modus Tollens

Answer 20

Denying the consequent. The second premises denies the conditional first premises.

Question 21

Hypothetical Syllogism

Answer 21

Three-statement deductive argument.

Question 22

Counterexample method

Answer 22

A method for determining the validity of an argument

Question 23

Plausible (argument)

Answer 23

As close to the truth as possible

Question 24

Fitting (argument)

Answer 24

Coinciding with what you think was the authors intent.

Question 25

Dependent (Premises)

Answer 25

dependent premise gives little or no support on its own and requires the assistance of at least one other premise.

Question 26

Independent (premises)

Answer 26

An independent premise supports a conclusion by itself and without the assistance of other premises.

Question 27

Moral Statement

Answer 27

A statement affirming that an action is right or wrong or that a person (or one’s motive or character) is good or bad.

Question 28

Nonmoral statements

Answer 28

they assert that a state of affairs is actual (true or false) but do not assign a moral value to it.

Question 29

confirmation bias

Answer 29

Paying attention only to evidence that confirms our beliefs while ignoring opposing evidence.

Question 30

Availability error

Answer 30

The tendency to rely on evidence not because it’s reliable but because it’s vivid or memorable.

Question 31

Motivated reasoning

Answer 31

Reasoning for the purpose of supporting a predetermined conclusion, not to uncover the truth.

Question 32

Dunning-Kruger effect

Answer 32

The common human failing of being ignorant of how ignorant we are.

Question 33

Begging the question

Answer 33

The Fallacy of arguing in a circle - That is, trying to use a statement as both a premise in an argument and the conclusion of that argument. Such an argument says in effect, p is true because p is true.

Question 34

equivocation

Answer 34

The fallacy of assigning two different meanings to the same term in an argument.

Question 35

Appeal to authority

Answer 35

The fallacy of relying on the opinion of someone thought to be an expert who is not.

Question 36

Slippery Slope

Answer 36

The fallacy of using dubious premises to argue that doing a particular action will inevitably lead to other actions that will result in disaster, so that first action shouldn’t be done.

Question 37

Faulty Analogy

Answer 37

The use of a flawed analogy to argue a conclusion

Question 38

Appeal to ignorance

Answer 38

The fallacy of arguing that the absence of evidence entitles us to believe a claim

Question 39

Straw man

Answer 39

The fallacy of misrepresenting someone’s claim or argument so it can be more easily refuted

Question 40

Appeal to the person

Answer 40

The fallacy (also known as ad hominem) of arguing that a claim should be rejected solely because of the characteristics of the person making it.

Question 41

hasty generalization

Answer 41

The fallacy of drawing a conclusion about an entire group of people of things based on an undersized sample of the group

Question 42

Confirmation Bias

Answer 42

paying attention only to evidence that confirms our beliefs while ignoring opposing evidence.

Question 43

availability error

Answer 43

The tendency to rely on evidence not because it’s reliable but because it is vivid or memorable.

Question 44

Motivated reasoning

Answer 44

Reasoning for the purpose of supporting a predetermined conclusion, not uncover the truth.

Question 45

Dunning-Kruger effect

Answer 45

The common human failing of being ignorant of how ignorant we are.