Reference no: EM133380649

Part 1. Identify the type of deductive argument (Modus Ponens, Modus Tollens, or Hypothetical Syllogism) for each of the following arguments.

a. If I am thinking, then I exist. I am thinking. Therefore, I exist. Descartes' Cogito

b. If the Great Spirit had desired me to be a white man, he would have made me a white man. He did not make me a white man. Hence, he did not desire me to be a white man. Chief Sitting Bull

c. The cat's name is Samantha Peterson. I know this because it turned to look at me when I shouted, "Samantha Peterson!" If the cat turned to look at me when I shouted "Samantha Peterson," then its name must be Samantha Peterson.

d. If money is the most important thing in life, then we will pursue it for its own sake. We do not pursue money for its own sake, but rather as a means to achieving something else. Thus, money is not the most important thing in life. Aristotle

e. Whenever food is presented to the dog, the dog salivates. If we ring a bell when food is presented to the dog, the dog will associate the bell with the food. If the dog associates the bell with the food, it will act as it does when food is presented. So, when the bell rings, the dog will salivate.

Part 2. Each of the following sets of premises enables you to draw a specific conclusion using a deductive argument. State the conclusion that you can draw from each set of premises and the deductive argument form(s) that you used to draw the conclusion.

a. If the rich countries had become rich purely by stealing form the rest of the world, then the rest of the world would be poorer now than it used to be. But the rest of the world is richer now than it used to be, even though it is not nearly as wealthy as the rich countries.

b. If the SAT were a useful test, then it would test skills like research and critical analysis. It does not test those skills.

c. Unless we can be sure of the existence of objects, we cannot be sure that other people's bodies exist. If we cannot be sure that other people's bodies exist, then we cannot be sure that other people's minds exist.

d. In January 1610, Galileo pointed a new telescope at Jupiter. He noticed three points of light beside Jupiter that weren't visible with his other, weaker telescopes. At first, he thought they were stars. But, as he wrote in his notes, he reasoned that if they were stars, then they should be about as bright as the other stars, and arranged randomly like the other stars. But they were brighter than the other stars and arranged in a straight line next to Jupiter.

Part 3. Invent own arguments that follow the pattern for each of these deductive argument forms.

a. Modus Ponens

b. Modus Tollens

c. Hypothetical Syllogism