Principle and Parallel Reasoning Flashcards

Principle: 'A regulation is justified only if the harm it prevents is greater than the burden it imposes on those regulated.' An economist argues that a proposed sugar tax is not justified. Which finding would most directly support this conclusion?

Answer: The tax would cost manufacturers $2 billion annually while preventing only $500 million in health costs.

If the burden ($2B on manufacturers) exceeds the harm prevented ($500M in health costs), the regulation fails to satisfy the stated principle's justification condition.

Which argument most closely parallels the reasoning: 'We should elect leaders who put the public interest above personal gain. Candidate Osei has donated her entire salary to charity for three years. Therefore, we should elect Candidate Osei'?

Answer: We should hire employees who are reliable. Marcus has never missed a deadline. Therefore, we should hire Marcus.

Both arguments apply a general criterion for a role, identify a candidate who meets that criterion via a specific behavior, and conclude we should choose that candidate.

A philosopher argues: 'Actions are right if and only if they maximize overall happiness. Lying to protect a friend from embarrassment increases overall happiness. Therefore, lying in this case is right.' A critic responds that this conclusion is flawed because the principle, consistently applied, would justify harmful deception. What type of counter-argument is the critic using?

Answer: Showing that the principle leads to unacceptable conclusions in other cases.

The critic extends the principle to other cases where it yields clearly wrong results, a reductio ad absurdum strategy that challenges the principle's validity.

Principle: 'A contract clause is unenforceable if it was not disclosed to the signing party before the contract was executed.' A court must determine whether a penalty clause is enforceable. Which fact is MOST relevant to applying this principle?

Answer: The penalty clause appeared in a footnote added to the contract after the party signed.

If the clause was added after signing, it was not disclosed before execution, directly triggering the unenforceability condition in the stated principle.

Which of the following exhibits a reasoning flaw that most closely matches the flaw in this argument: 'The most creative people often work in chaotic environments. Therefore, if you work in a chaotic environment, you will become more creative'?

Answer: Wealthy people often own art. So buying art will make you wealthy.

Both arguments infer that adopting a property associated with a group will cause you to acquire the group's defining characteristic — confusing correlation with a reversible causal recipe.

A principle states: 'Punishment should be proportional to the harm caused, not merely to the intent of the offender.' A defense attorney invokes this principle to argue for a reduced sentence. Which factual scenario best supports the attorney's argument?

Answer: The defendant intended to cause serious harm but the victim suffered no lasting injury.

When intent was harmful but actual harm was minimal, the principle that punishment tracks harm rather than intent directly supports a reduced sentence.

Lawmaker: 'We permit citizens to use reasonable force to protect their property. A homeowner used force to stop a burglar from stealing her car. Therefore, the homeowner's use of force was permissible.' Which additional premise is NECESSARY to make this argument logically valid?

Answer: The force the homeowner used was reasonable.

The principle permits only reasonable force, so for the conclusion to follow, we must establish that the force used in this case actually was reasonable.