PhD Doctor of Philosophy Logic, Argumentation, and Philosophy of Language

Question 1

A valid deductive argument is one in which:

Accepted Answer

If the premises are true, the conclusion must be true

Answer

Validity is a formal property: in a valid argument it is impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion false.

Question 2

The distinction between a priori and a posteriori arguments rests on whether justification depends on:

Accepted Answer

Experience or reason alone

Answer

A priori arguments are justifiable by reason alone without empirical evidence, while a posteriori arguments require observational evidence.

Question 3

Modus ponens is a valid argument form that proceeds from 'If P then Q' and 'P' to conclude:

Accepted Answer

Q

Answer

Modus ponens (affirming the antecedent) is: given the conditional and its antecedent, the consequent follows necessarily.

Question 4

An ad hominem fallacy attacks the arguer's:

Accepted Answer

Character rather than the argument itself

Answer

Ad hominem redirects from the substance of an argument to personal characteristics of the person making it, which is irrelevant to the argument's soundness.

Question 5

Frege's sense/reference (Sinn/Bedeutung) distinction distinguishes between the meaning of a term and its:

Accepted Answer

Actual object or referent in the world

Answer

Frege showed that 'morning star' and 'evening star' have the same reference (Venus) but different senses (modes of presentation), explaining how identity statements can be informative.

PhD Doctor of Philosophy Practice Test

PhD Doctor of Philosophy Practice Test

PhD Doctor of Philosophy Logic, Argumentation, and Philosophy of Language