“Critical thinking is skeptical without being cynical.

It is open-minded without being wishy-

washy. It is analytical without being nitpicky. Critical thinking can be decisive without being
stubborn, evaluative without being judgmental and forceful without being opinionated.” (Peter
Facione)

Here are some examples of logical arguments.

1. If it’s raining, we should take the umbrella. It is raining. So, we should take the umbrella.
Hypothetical syllogism
2. You politicos keep arguing that institutions can’t be changed in USA when, in fact, they
change all that time. Haven’t they ever heard of the institution of slavery? It’s gone from
this continent, isn’t it?
Deductive syllogism
3. Paul of Tarsus, reasoned that if the supreme power of the universe has interests and
biases, and if He had bothered to incarnate himself in the flesh and to die on the cross for
the salvation of human kind, then this is something everyone should hear about, not just
Jews.
Hypothetical syllogism
4. There are only two choices, good and evil. Many indeed choose evil and according to the
standard monotheist account, this choice must bring divine punishment in its wake. If
God knew in advance that a particular person would use her freewill to choose evil, and
that as a result she would be punished for this by eternal tortures in hell. So it implies,
God is not just as we think He is.
Deductive argument
5. All sub-Saharan countries are least developed countries. Ethiopia is found in sub-Saharan
region. It follows that Ethiopia is a least developed country.
Categorical syllogism
6. Normal body temperature of a healthy person is 37 degree c Tesfaya’s father body
temperature reached 42 degree C lately. So, Tesfay’s father health condition is not good.
Argument from mathematics
7. All national parks of Ethiopia are protected and administered by the government. Awash
park is one of the oldest national parks in Ethiopia. Therefore, Awash Park is protected
and administered by the government of Ethiopia.
Categorical syllogism
8. Human desires cannot be fulfilled and we are not content with what we already have.
Even if we can come up with a way that allows us to grasp as many as possible, we will
strive to find an empty hand to ask for more. Therefore, it is a waste of time trying to
please people.
Inductive argument
9. Socialism is doomed to failure because it does not provide the incentives needed for a
prosperous economy.
Opinion, not argument
10. All identical twins often have different IO test scores; yet, such twins inherit the same
genes. So environment must play some part in determining IO.
Categorical syllogism
11. Since it is wrong to kill human being, it follows that abortion is wrong, because abortion
takes the life of human beings.
Deductive syllogism
12. Deforestation causes drought, and famine is the result of draught. So it follows,
deforestation causes famine.
Argument from causality
13. Since Tirunesh sat at the back of the theatre hall, she could not hear the performance
clearly. Therefore, she could not write a proper review of the scene.
Inductive argument ( she may come up with another way to write the report)
14. Morally weak persons are not happy. Zinash, who is morally weak, is not happy
throughout her life.
Deductive argument
15. I’m sure Martin Luther King Jr. didn’t die during the 1960s, because it says right here in
the encyclopedia that he was assassinated in Memphis in 1998.
Argument from authority
16. If Socrates is a man and all men are mortal, then Socrates must be mortal as well.
 Hypothetical syllogism
17. For the whole history of human experience the sun has risen in the east and set in the
west; therefore, the sun will do the same thing tomorrow.
Argument from causation
18. Do not expect “A” from this course, if you did not study hard.
Conditional statement, not an argument
19. Abebe married a prostitute. Therefore, Abebe’s wife was engaged in sexual intercourse
for payment.
Argument from definition
20. The motorcycle has blue cooler, its speed is 180Km/h and made in Germany. My friend’s
mew motorcycle has also blue cooler, its speed I 180Km/h and it looks comfortable. We
may conclude that, my friend’s new motorcycle is made in Germany.
Argument from analogy
21. All witnesses testify, for the court, that the defendant stole 10000 Birr from the company.
Accordingly, based on the criminal code, the defendant will be sentenced for 10 years
imprisonment.
Argument from authority
22. According to Ato Mesfin, who is an instructor in Yared Music School and researcher in
Ethiopian traditional music, the quality of traditional music has been declining in this
country; therefore, based on the information of Ato Mesfin, the Ethiopian traditional
music is really in a risk.
Argument from authority
23. Some pesticides are toxic for humans, and anything that is toxic for humans is unsafe for
most humans to consume, therefore, some pesticides are unsafe for most humans to
consume.
Categorical syllogism
24. That street is slippery. Yesterday I saw two car accidents on that slippery street; today
also the street is wet and slippery. It implies, there is high probability for another accident
to occur upon that street.
Argument from causation
25. The government of Ethiopia has been adopting the system of decentralization. With this
system power is distributed within regional power houses. It implies that, the Ethiopian
government recognized to give greater local authority.
Argument from definition
26. Hayat was named as Miss Africa 2003 in Beijing. She made a tremendous performance
in the world beauty contest. Her appearance on the stage with attractive smile, gorgeous
mood, wearing the glamorous traditional Ethiopian dress was irresistible to the audience
and applauded her with high voice, clapping hands, whistling; not to forget her body and
walk.
Explanation, not an argument
27. Since Almaz is the mother of Chaltu and the sister of Haphtom, it follows that Haphtom
is Chaltu’s Uncle.
Argument from definition
28. Eternity is simultaneously whole. But time has a before and an after. Therefore time and
eternity is not the same thing.
Argument from definition
29. When the Romans occupied England, coal was burned, Since coal produces quite a bit of
soot and sulfur dioxide, there must have been days almost 2000 years ago when the air in
the larger towns was badly polluted.
Argument from casual inference
30. No e-mails are confidential, and all top-secret documents are confidential, so no e-mails
are top secret.
Categorical syllogism
31. The rainfall in Addis Ababa has been over 15 inches per year for the last thirty years, so
next year it will probably be over 15 inches too.
Prediction
32. All animal forms things in accordance with the standard and need of the species to which
it belongs, whilst man knows how to produce in accordance with the standard of every
species, and knows how to apply everywhere the inherent standard to the object which is
the laws of beauty. Man therefore also forms things in accordance with the laws of
beauty.
 Categorical syllogism

33. Nietzsche discovered Schopenhauer by accident in October 1865, when he happened to

pick up a copy of The World as Will and Representation in a bookstore in Leipzig. The
work made an enormous impression on the 21-year-old Nietzsche.
Report, not an argument
34. The human mind is not the same thing as the human brain. The human body, including
the brain, is a material thing. The human mind is a spiritual thing. Nothing is both a
material thing and a spiritual thing.
Deductive argument
35. The Admissions Office must be in this building because of that sign.
Argument from sign
36. There’s going to be a nuclear attack in the US this year because Pat Robertson says that
God told him there would be.
Argument from authority
37. If Descartes’ use of the concept of “substance” is equivocal, then Spinoza’s right. But if
Spinoza’s right, then the distinction between the mind and the body as separate
substances is called into question. So if Descartes’ use of “substance” is equivocal, the
mind-body distinction is open to doubt.
Hypothetical syllogism
38. Either the thief came in with a key or there would be signs of forced entry. But there are
no signs of forced entry, so he must have had a key.
Disjunctive syllogism
39. The tip on this meal is $2.40 because the bill is $12, and a decent tip is 20%.
Argument from mathematics
40. For organisms at the sea surface, sinking into deep water usually means death. Plant cells
cannot photosynthesize in the dark depths. Fishes and other animals that descend lose
contact with the main surface food supply and themselves become food for strange deep-
living predators.
Argument (conclusion: the first statement)