UGED1112A Logic 2013-14 2nd semester

Tutorial #4

I Write “+” for true statements and “ － ” for false statements inside the
parentheses provided.
1) A strong argument has the following essential feature: it is impossible for its
conclusion to be false while its premises are true. ………………………… ( )
2) “Tu quoque” is a kind of fallacy of appeal to force. …………………….. ( )
3) All deductive arguments are valid. …………………………………………( )
4) All valid arguments have at least one false premise. ……………………….( )
5) Every valid argument has true premises and only true premises. …………. ( )
6) Inductive arguments can guarantee the truth of their conclusions. ………... ( )
7) False cause fallacy occurs when the conclusion of an argument rests upon an
alleged chain reaction and there is not sufficient reason to think that the chain
reaction will actually take place. …………………………………………... ( )
8) The major term is the subject term of the conclusion. …………………….. ( )
9) Every uncogent argument is weak. …………………………………………( )
10) Middle terms are the predicate terms of the conclusions. …………………. ( )

II Identify the fallacies committed by the following arguments, and give a brief
explanation for your answer.
1) JACK: I believe very strongly in astrology, don’t you?
MAY: What reasons do you have to believe that its principles are true?
JACK: I’m an Aries (白羊座), and Aries’ are very good in perceiving what’s true.

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

2) To fight global warming, we can either raise taxes on fossil fuels or else find
alternatives sources of energy. Since there is no chance of finding alternative
sources of energy now, we must raise taxes.

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

1
UGED1112A Logic 2013-14 2nd semester
Tutorial #4

3) JACK: Mr. Lam, the wages I’m paid aren’t living wages. They are below the
legal minimum wage. Given my increased overtime hours, I think I deserve a
raise.
LAM: Jack, when I was your age I worked for half the money you’re getting.
Even today there are people in other countries who make in a year what you
make in a month.

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

4) You’d better go to bed early tonight. If you don’t get to bed early, you’ll be too
tired to do well on the final exam tomorrow, and then you won’t get admitted into
a decent university and then you’ll end up an alcoholic living in a trash-bin( 垃圾
筒).

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

III Use Venn diagrams to determine whether the following arguments are valid
or invalid.
1)
All M are P.
Some S are M.
________________________

Some S are P.

2
UGED1112A Logic 2013-14 2nd semester
Tutorial #4

2)
All M are P.
Some S are not M.
________________________

Some S are not P.

3)
No M are P.
Some S are M.
________________________

Some S are not P.

4)
Some M are not P.
All M are S.
________________________

Some S are P.

5)
Some M are not P.
No S are M.
________________________

Some S are P.

IV Translate the following statements into standard-form categorical

propositions by the stipulated categories in the parentheses, and draw a
Venn diagram for each proposition.

1) Not all interest expenses are tax deductible (可減免的). (interest expenses,
tax-deductible expenses)

3
UGED1112A Logic 2013-14 2nd semester
Tutorial #4

2) If a piece of evidence is trustworthy, then it should be admissible in court.

(trustworthy pieces of evidence, pieces of evidence that should be
admissible in court)

3) Environmentalists purchase only fuel-efficient cars ( 省 油 車 ). (cars

purchased by environmentalists, fuel-efficient cars)

4) Animals are bears only if they are fierce (兇殘). (bears, fierce animals)

V Translate the following arguments into standard-form categorical syllogisms

4
UGED1112A Logic 2013-14 2nd semester
Tutorial #4

by the stipulated categories in the parentheses, and use Venn diagrams to

determine whether each is valid or invalid.

1) John is not the only citizen, because only citizens are property owners, and unless
a person is a property owner, he is not John. (People identical to John, citizens,
property owners)

2) Unless a man is a philosopher, he is not a skeptic( 懷 疑 論 者 ). Nobody except

theologians is philosophers. Therefore, there is no skeptic who is not a
theologian. (Philosophers, skeptics, theologians)

3) Anyone who led America into the space age will live in history. Therefore, John
Glenn will live in history, because he led America into the space age. (People
who led America into the space age, People who will live in history, People
identical to John Glenn)

5
UGED1112A Logic 2013-14 2nd semester
Tutorial #4

4) That which has no parts cannot perish (消除) by dissolution of its parts, and the
soul has no parts. Therefore, the soul cannot perish by dissolution of its parts.
(Things made up by parts, Thing that can perish by dissolution of their parts, Souls )

5) Unless an argument is invalid, it commits no illicit ( 不 當 的 ) process. All

Syllogisms commit some illicit processes. Therefore, no arguments except
syllogisms are valid arguments. (Valid arguments, Arguments which commit
some illicit processes, Syllogisms)

6) 除了張議員之外，沒有人是涼薄的。除非一個人倡議二十元時薪，否則他不

6
UGED1112A Logic 2013-14 2nd semester
Tutorial #4

是張議員。因此，只有倡議二十元時薪的人是涼薄的。（與張議員等同的人
涼薄的人；倡議二十元時薪的人）