Phil 210 -- Logical Thought
Midterm Exam
October 25, 2002
(1) (10 points) Explain very briefly why, in numbering arguments (a) and (b), the two arguments do not require the same number of claims
(a) Since beans and carrots are so unhealthful (beans even cause brain tumors), they should be removed from the American market.
(b) Since lamb and beef are so healthful (meat even promotes good teeth), they should be subsidized on the American market.
(2) (50 points) Using the numbering provided, diagram the following argument. The sentence numbering is delineated in detail on the attached sheet. You do not have to supply any missing premises.
¬The failure of the feminist movement to deter wife-battering shows definitively that Áfeminism is dead in this country. As we have seen so often -- ®the attempt in the '60s to ban bras, and Ãnow attempts in the last fifteen years to promote womens’ sports -- Äfeminism has been hopelessly out of touch with the contemporary social scene. Obviously Åwomen still wear bras; and Æwomen will never play football or learn to box properly. And ³even stuffy old English Common Law encourages men to bash their wives around a bit when they get out of line. Because of ´the enormity of these failures, Éit is time to provide a proper burial for feminism and move on into the 21st century. 11 Women's colleges like Mount Holyoke should be banned; 12 they simply raise unrealistic levels of expectation for women, 13 thereby dashing the pathetic hopes of graduates who must get along in the real world. And 14 women, who 15 were happier when their energies were focused on household management, should not be permitted to vote. After all, 16 the happiness of women is crucial to whatever agenda men choose for the 21st century.
(3) (20 points) For each
of the following arguments, supply the single most significant missing premise.
Give only one missing premise for each.
(a) Islam is a violent religion – the Washington D.C. snipers had converted to Islam.
(b) Gun laws must be strengthened, since the number of gun-related deaths in this country has risen dramatically, and these deaths must be stopped.
(4) (20 points) Using the lexicon specified, translate each of the following into our artificial language.
D1:
À
is a doctor
T2:
À
hates Á
R2: À pays Á
(a) Doctors hate only those who fail to pay them.
(b) Only doctors hate those who fail to pay them.
(5) (8 points EXTRA CREDIT) Following are the beginnings for three arguments. For each, say whether (A) and whether (B) will advance the argument to a conclusion. If you wish, you may use √s (yes) and Xs (no) in the table provided to the right.
(Arg 1) Only women are brave.
(Arg 2) Women are brave.
(Arg 3) Those brave are not women.
(A) Leona is a woman.
(B) Barbara is brave.
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1. The feminist movement has failed to deter wife-battering.
2. Feminism is dead in this country
3. Feminists tried to ban bras in the ‘60s.
4. Feminists have tried in the last 15 years to promote womens’ sports.
5. Feminism has been hopelessly out of touch with the contemporary social scene.
6. Women still wear bras.
7. Women will never play football or learn to box properly.
8. English Common Law encourages men to bash their wives.
9. These failures are enormous.
10. It’s time to declare feminism dead and to move on.
11. Women's colleges like Mount Holyoke should be banned.
12. Women's colleges raise unrealistic levels of expectation for women.
13. Women’s colleges disappoint graduates who need to cope in the world.
14. Women should not be permitted to vote.
15. Women were happier when their energies were focused on managing their homes.
16. The happiness of women is crucial to men’s agenda for 21st century