PhB Bachelor of Philosophy Logic and Argumentation 2

Question 1

Inductive arguments, unlike deductive ones, aim to show that their conclusions are:

Accepted Answer

Probably true given the premises

Answer

Inductive arguments make the conclusion probable or well-supported, not guaranteed—even a strong inductive argument can have a false conclusion.

Question 2

The false dilemma (false dichotomy) fallacy presents a situation as having only two options when in fact:

Accepted Answer

More options exist

Answer

False dilemmas artificially restrict the logical space by ignoring intermediate or alternative possibilities beyond two presented extremes.

Question 3

In formal logic, a tautology is a statement that is:

Accepted Answer

True in all possible interpretations

Answer

A tautology is necessarily true by virtue of its logical form alone—its truth value is independent of the actual facts.

Question 4

The appeal to authority fallacy occurs when:

Accepted Answer

Someone cites an authority figure who lacks relevant expertise on the issue

Answer

Legitimate appeals to authority cite relevant experts; the fallacy arises when the cited authority lacks expertise in the specific domain under discussion.

Question 5

The principle of charity in argumentation requires that we:

Accepted Answer

Interpret opponents' arguments in their strongest or most reasonable form

Answer

Charitable interpretation engages with the best version of an argument, ensuring that refutation is substantive rather than based on a distorted representation.

PhB Bachelor of Philosophy Practice Test

PhB Bachelor of Philosophy Practice Test

PhB Bachelor of Philosophy Logic and Argumentation 2