CRITICAL THINKING

Answers to Exercises – Chapter 03

Exercise 3.1

I.

1. Moriarty

2. Adler, with the revolver

3. Windibank, with the rope, on the downs

II.

1. Mike: Grape juice

Amy: Pepsi
Brian: Diet Coke
Lisa: Iced tea
Bill: 7-Up

2. China and Japan are out because Seth does not want to go to Asia. Australia is out because Maria does not
want to go to any country south of the equator. Canada is out because Antoine wants to study in Europe or
Australia. England is out because JoBeth is willing to go anywhere except England. Therefore, by a process of
elimination, the answer is Germany.

3. Buck: Soda
Jennifer: Pretzels
Li: Dip
Ursula: Chips
Tyler: Ice cream

Exercise 3.2

1. Modus tollens
2. Affirming the consequent
3. Modus ponens
4. Chain argument
5. Denying the antecedent
6. Modus ponens
7. Denying the antecedent
8. Affirming the consequent
9. Chain argument
10. Affirming the consequent
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Exercise 3.3

1. Deductive (Argument based on mathematics; also, the conclusion follows necessarily from the premises.)

2. Inductive (Argument from authority; also, the conclusion follows only probably from the premises; also,
"it’s reasonable to believe that” is an induction indicator phrase.)

3. Inductive (Statistical argument; also, the conclusion follows only probably from the premises; also,
probably is an induction indicator word.)

4. Deductive (Argument by elimination; also, the conclusion follows necessarily from the premises.)

5. Deductive. (The conclusion follows necessarily from the premises; also, obviously is a deduction indicator
word.)

6. Inductive (Causal argument; also, the conclusion does not follow necessarily from the premises.)

7. Inductive (Given that signs can be wrong, the conclusion follows only probably from the premises.)

8. Deductive (Argument by definition; also, the conclusion follows necessarily from the premises.)

9. Deductive (Categorical syllogism; also, the conclusion follows necessarily from the premises.)

10. Inductive (Argument from authority; also, a prediction; also, probably is an induction indicator word;
also, the conclusion does not follow necessarily from the premises.)

11. Deductive (Hypothetical syllogism; note, however, that the conclusion does not follow necessarily
from the premises.)

12. Deductive (The conclusion follows necessarily from the premises.)

13. Inductive (The principle of charity dictates that the argument be regarded as inductive, because the
conclusion follows at best probably from the premises.)

14. Inductive (Causal argument; also, the conclusion does not follow necessarily from the premises.)

15. Inductive (Inductive generalization; also, probably is an induction indicator word; also, the conclusion
does not follow necessarily from the premises.)

16. Inductive (Argument from authority; also, the conclusion does not follow necessarily from the premises.)

17. Deductive (Hypothetical syllogism; note, however, that the conclusion does not follow necessarily
from the premises.)

18. Inductive (Argument from analogy; also, the conclusion does not follow necessarily from the premises.)

19. Inductive. (The principle of charity dictates that the argument be regarded as inductive, because the
conclusion does not follow necessarily from the premises.)
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20. Deductive (Argument by definition; also, the conclusion follows necessarily from the premises; also, “it
must be the case that” is a deduction indicator phrase.)

21. Deductive. (The conclusion follows necessarily from the premises.)

22. Deductive (Argument by elimination; also, the conclusion follows necessarily from the premises.)

23. Inductive (Argument from authority; also, the conclusion follows only probably from the premises.)

24. Inductive (Predictive argument; also, the conclusion follows only probably from the premises.)

25. Deductive (Argument based on mathematics; also, conclusion follows necessarily from the premises;
also, "it necessarily follows" is a deduction indicator phrase.)

Exercise 3.4

1. Beta.
2. Alpha.
3. Delta is a beta.
4. Delta is not an alpha.
5. Delta is not a beta.
6. Delta is not an alpha.
7. If Delta is an alpha, then Delta is a theta.
8. Delta is a beta.
9. Either Delta is a theta or Delta is a sigma.
10. Some alphas are thetas (or: Some thetas are alphas).

Exercise 3.5

I.

1. Valid
2. Valid
3. Invalid (affirming the consequent)
4. Invalid (denying the antecedent)
5. Invalid
6. Invalid (Not all lions have four legs.)
7. Valid
8. Valid
9. Invalid
10. Invalid

II.

1. Sound
2. Unsound (The first premise is false.)
3. Sound
4. Unsound (invalid argument: affirming the consequent)
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5. Sound
6. Sound
7. Unsound (invalid argument: denying the antecedent)
8. Unsound (The argument is invalid.)
9. Unsound (The argument is invalid.)
10. Unsound (false premise)

III.

1. Cogent
2. Uncogent (Although cigarette smoking significantly increases one's risk of dying from lung cancer, most
heavy smokers do not die from lung cancer.)
3. Uncogent (false premise)
4. Uncogent (The analogy is a bad one, and the second premise is false.)
5. Cogent
6. Uncogent (The conclusion does not follow probably from the premises.)
7. Cogent
8. Uncogent (The first premise is false.)
9. Cogent.
10. Uncogent (The conclusion does not follow probably from the premises.)

IV.

1. Deductive, valid
2. Deductive, valid
3. Inductive, strong
4. Inductive, weak
5. Inductive, strong
6. Deductive, invalid (three socks would suffice)
7. Inductive, strong
8. Deductive, invalid
9. Deductive, valid
10. Inductive, weak
11. Inductive, strong
12. Inductive, strong
13. Inductive, weak
14. Deductive, valid
15. Deductive, invalid
16. Inductive, weak
17. Deductive, invalid
18. Inductive, weak
19. Inductive, strong
20. Deductive, invalid