NAME__________________________________
STUDENT NUMBER______________________

PHI 1101 H: REASONING AND CRITICAL THINKING
23rd September 2011
First Test: 50 marks worth 10% of final mark
Closed Book
Professor: Mark Raymond Brown
8:30 am – 9:50 am
MNT 202

Please answer each question on the pages of this test. If you need more space for your answer, please use the reverse side of the page.

I. Please circle the letter that corresponds to the best answer. Each is worth 1 mark.

1) Subjective relativism is the idea that __________________________.

a) Truth is relative to societies. b) Truth depends on what someone believes. c) There is a way the world is. d) Some objective truths are about our subjective states.

2) Social relativism is:

a) The idea that truth is relative to societies b) Truth is different for each of us c) Objectively true d) None of the above

3) A group of statements in which some of them (the premises) are intended to support another of them (the conclusion) is known as a(n) _______________. a) chain argument b) claim c) argument d) reason
4) Drawing conclusions about people without sufficient reasons is known as _____________. a) appeal to common practice b) appeal to tradition c) peer pressure d) stereotyping

5) Critical thinking is systematic because it __________________________. a) is caused by a state of mind b) has practical implications c) involves distinct procedures and methods d) leads to better understanding

6) Words that frequently accompany arguments and signal that a premise or conclusion is present are known as ___________________. a) inference indicators b) premises c) indicator verbs d) argument components

7) Probably the best advice for anyone trying to uncover or dissect arguments is __________. a) find the premises first b) paraphrase the argument c) determine the truth of premises d) find the conclusion first

8) The function of an explanation is to ____________________________. a) try to prove that a statement is true b) try to show why or how something is the way it is c) try to show that something is the case d) try to show that a statement is in dispute

9) A conclusion is? a) The end b) An opinion c) A statement that premises support d) An explanation e) None of the above

10) Inference is: a) The process of reasoning from a premise or premises to a conclusion b) The process of validating the truthfulness of premises c) The process of offering up false premises in an argument d) The process of evaluating arguments for validity e) None of the above

II. For each of the following on the line provided write what is implicit -- premise or conclusion -- and then write what the implicit premise or conclusion is. Each is worth two marks.

1. Tony is Canadian. Thus he is used to cold weather.
Implicit _Premise_

Canadians are used to cold weather.

2. Moore’s dog is a bloodhound, and most bloodhounds have a keen sense of smell.
Implicit __Conclusion_

Moore’s dog has a keen sense of smell.

3. He’ll drive recklessly only if he’s upset, and he’s upset.
Implicit _Conclusion_

He’ll drive recklessly.

4. My cousin has good vision, for people who don’t wear eyeglasses have good vision.
Implicit _Premise_

My cousin doesn’t wear eyeglasses.

5. Almost all Vancouverites like the beach, and Jessica is from Vancouver.

Implicit _Conclusion_

Jessica probably likes the beach.

III. Present the following arguments in standard form and provide a diagram for each. You may want to keep in mind that you may have to reformulate some claims, that explanations may occur, and that noise or redundancies may arise in some arguments. The value of each question is noted in parentheses.

1. Because of last summer’s infestation of gypsy moths in Ottawa, we must conclude that the same pestilence will return this summer. (3)

Standard Form:

1. Last summer there was an infestation of gypsy moths in Ottawa --------------------------------------------------------------------
2. The pestilence (or gypsy moth infestation) will return this summer.

Diagram: 1 ↓ 2

2. Cole is up to no good. He’s been acting suspiciously for days, and he told Rachel he was going to steal something valuable. (3)

Standard Form:

1. Cole [he] has been acting suspiciously for days.
2. Cole [he] told Rachel he was going to steal something valuable.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Cole is up to no good.

Diagram:

1 2 \ / 3

3. What do I think of shopping at the Bay? I’ll tell you! They’ve got great prices, and they’ve got a good selection of men’s clothes. So the Bay is a great place to shop. (3)

Standard Form:
1. The Bay has got great prices.
2. The Bay has a good selection of men’s clothes.
----------------------------------------------------------
3. The Bay is a great place to shop.

Diagram:

1 2 \ / 3

4. Sue’s Spanish must be very good now. She spent a year in Mexico living and conversing with a Mexican family, and she has attained a level one in fluency in Spanish because she spent a year studying it at the University of Mexico. (4)

Standard Form:

1. Sue spent a year in Mexico living and conversing with a Mexican family.
2. Sue has attained a level one in fluency in Spanish because she spent a year studying it at the University of Mexico.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Sue’s Spanish must be very good now.

Diagram:

1 2 \ / 3

5. Most philosophers are introverted, and Chris is a philosopher. Therefore, Chris is probably introverted. Thus, Chris probably has poor social skills, because most introverted people have poor social skills. (4)

Standard Form:
1. Most philosophers are introverted.
2. Chris is a philosopher.
3. Chris is probably introverted. 1, 2
4. Most introverted people have poor social skills. 5. Chris probably has poor social skills. 3, 4

Diagram:
1------2
↓ 3------4 ↓ 5

6. As the saying goes, stealing from one’s friends is a terrible crime. If you can’t trust your friends, then who can you trust? Consider the following scenario involving three friends: Maggie, Jose, or Ling broke the window and stole the vase. Jose couldn’t have done it because he was studying in his room and was observed the whole time. Maggie couldn’t have done it because she was out of town at the time and has witnesses to prove it. So the thief had to be Ling. (4)

Standard Form:
1. Maggie, Jose, or Ling broke the window and stole the vase.
2. Jose couldn’t have done it because he was studying in his room and was observed the whole time.
3. Maggie couldn’t have done it because she was out of town at the time and has witnesses to prove it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
4. The thief had to be Ling.

Diagram:
1----2----3
↓ 4
7. Elena should dump that creep Oscar since he sneaks around with other women behind her back. Also, it’s very likely that he’ll drain her financial resources because he spends all her money at the racetrack. (4)

Standard Form:

1. Oscar sneaks around with other women behind Elena’s back.
2. Oscar spends all her money at the racetrack.
3. It is very likely that he’ll drain her financial resources.2 4. Elena should dump that creep Oscar. 1, 3

Diagram:
1 2 \ / \ 3 \ / 4

8. Amir is not going to class today, because he is wearing his brown leather jacket, and he never goes to class wearing that jacket. (3)

Standard Form:

1. Amir is wearing his brown leather jacket.
2. Amir never goes to class wearing that jacket.
--------------------------------------------------------
3. Amir is not going to class today.

Diagram:

1------2 ↓ 3

9. The sky is dark and dreary this morning, thus it will probably rain sometime today. (2)

Standard Form:

1. The sky is dark and dreary this morning.
-----------------------------------------------------
2. It will probably rain sometime today.

Diagram:

1
↓
2