Un-Warranted Assumptions
A student believes a rumor at school must be true because “everyone is talking about it.” Which unwarranted assumption is being made?
The assumption that if an idea is widely reported, it must be true.
Name the three parts of a syllogism
Major premise, minor premise, conclusion
or
General statement, specific statement, conclusion
Define "Hasty Generalization"
Basing an argument or conclusion on too little evidence
What are the 3 levels of evidence and what do they mean?
Certainty - without a doubt, proven with hard facts
Probability - likely given the evidence, multiple strong indicators
Insufficiency - evidence could be corroborated as coincidence or something else entirely, loose without clear facts
Identify the irrational appeal: I can't believe they're changing the road outside. That road has served my family for decades and is always in pristine condition. I have no idea why they would change brick to asphalt, the brick is fine and it's always been fine.
Irrational appeal to tradition
Someone insists their opinion is correct because they feel extremely certain about it. Which unwarranted assumption is being made?
The assumption that the stronger our conviction about an idea, the more valid the idea.
Finish the syllogism:
All dogs have four legs
___________________
Therefore, a German Shepherd had four legs
All dogs have four legs
A German Shepherd is a dog
Therefore, a German Shepherd had four legs
True or False: a Straw Man occurs when someone introduces an issue not relevant to the argument at hand
False, that describes a Red Herring.
Identify the Evidence Level: A student was seen cheating during a test. He had his head down and sleeve rolled slightly back to reveal something I can only guess was used to cheat. I didn't get a clear picture but I'm certain of his dishonesty.
Insufficiency
Identify the irrational appeal: One of my friends has been getting mean comments from a coworker. I said that she should just tough it out and shrug them off. It's better to be strong in the face of insults than to complain about them.
Irrational appeal to tolerance.
After crime increases soon after a new law is passed, someone concludes the law caused the increase without further evidence. Which unwarranted assumption is being made?
The assumption that if one event follows another in time, it must have been caused by the other.
Using letters, how would you organize the syllogism format?
A = B
C = A
C = B
Which fallacy is being committed here?: "A man walks under a ladder, soon afterward he is run over and killed. So, walking under the ladder killed the man."
(Double Points, explain why along with the fallacy)
Post Hoc, Ergo Proctor Hoc
Identify the evidence level: A bank teller is highly suspected to be stealing cash from the vault. He was seen with a note containing the passcode to the vault, during his shift money disappeared from the vault as well. He was also caught on the CCTV footage leaving the vault with cash in his hands.
Certainty
Reflective thinking analyzes past experiences to determine how to behave moving forward. Critical thinking analyzes arguments and feelings to determine action aimed at a desired outcome.
A critic rejects an entire argument after finding one small mistake in a single supporting detail. Which unwarranted assumption is being made?
(Double points, explain why this assumption is unwarranted)
The assumption that finding an error disproves the whole argument.
What type of reasoning do we use when we make syllogisms? Deductive or Inductive?
Deductive
(Inductive reasoning draws general conclusions from specific observations, while deductive reasoning starts with general principles and applies them to reach specific conclusions.)
Which fallacy occurs when a person attacks the person making the argument instead of the argument they're making?
Ad hominem
Identify the Evidence Level: A man at the park is being suspected of vandalism. He was seen in dark covered clothes with a painters mask and a hood over his head. The man was spotted buying spray paint at the store and also after searching contained multiple sketchbooks with graffiti art-styles. He was seen near a recent site of new graffiti, leaving when the paint was still fresh.
Probability
Name the 3 basic activities of a critical thinker according to Ruggerio.
(Double Points, explain each category)
Investigation , Interpretation , and Judgement.
(Finding evidence, deciding what the evidence means, reaching a conclusion)
A person claims their conclusion is logical because they can list several reasons they heard from others. Which unwarranted assumption is being made?
The assumption that having reasons proves that we have reasoned logically.
Finish the Syllogism.
__________________
A parrot is a bird
A parrot has two wings and a beak.
All birds have two wings and a beak
A parrot is a bird
A parrot has two wings and a beak
Does this definition match Begging the Question or Circular Reasoning: "Assuming what needs to be proven has already been so"
Begging the Question
A man is suspected of robbing a convenience store. Explain the level of evidence needed for it to be probable.
Examples: Was seen carrying items which the store says were missing. Walked in the store with a hood on and a backpack. Left the store without buying anything. Inventory matched the exact items found on his person. Man had no wallet or payment methods.
What are three things we must keep in mind when deciding moral and ethical questions?
Obligations, Ideals, and Consequences.