Reference no: EM133299740

Part A

For each of the following passages, standardize the argument made in the passage omitting any implicit premises that the argument may contain, and assess the premises for acceptability.  Justify your answer. (1 mark for the standardization, 1 mark for the assessment of each premise, 1 mark for the justification of the assessment of each premise)

1. Withholding information is just the same as lying and lying is wrong in every circumstance, so withholding information is wrong.
2. Nobody should undertake college education without at least some idea of what he or she wants to make and where he or she wants to go in life. But our world is so full of change that we cannot predict which fields will provide job openings in the future. Given this, we can't form any reasonable life plans. So nobody should go to college.
3. All countries can be attacked by sea.  All countries that can be attacked by sea are countries that require a navy.  Therefore, all countries require a navy.
4. Swimming is the safest form of exercise for the many people who have problems with their joints, because the water supports the swimmer, and there is no stress on such problem joints as the knee and the ankle.

Part B

Each of the following passages contains a fallacy. For each passage, name the fallacy it contains, and then explain why it is an example of that fallacy.  If the passage contains more than one fallacy, you only need to pick one.  (1 mark for naming the fallacy, 1 mark for the explanation)

1. Marcus' solution to global warming is clearly false. After all, it came to him after he had been drinking!
2. The opposition is in no position to attack the government for increasing the deficit. When they formed the government a few years ago, they created a massive deficit that we are still coping with.
3. I believe in astrology and always read my horoscope. I can't actually prove that it is true, but nobody can disprove it!
4. You should judge this person innocent. After all, she's a poor single mother who didn't have many chances in life, and if you find her guilty, her life will be ruined.
5. The mayor is a racist! At a city council meeting last night, he said that he won't support our proposal to name a street after Nelson Mandela. How can we tolerate elected officials who say that minorities shouldn't have rights?
6. That must have been a terrible film. I don't know anyone who went to see it.