Chapter 8 - Assessing Adequacy

Question 1

What does it mean to jump to conclusions?

Answer 1

To rely on premises that are inadequate to support a conclusion.

Question 2

How can you assess the adequacy of an argument?

Answer 2

Take account of what the consequences would be if the conclusion turns out to be false.

Question 3

What are the two general criteria for establishing adequacy?

Answer 3

Deductive validity and inductive strength.

Question 4

What five criteria should be used when assessing the adequacy of an appeal to authority?

Answer 4

1. Identify the authority
2. The authority muse be generally recognized by the experts in the field.
3. The particular matter in support of which an authority is cited must lie within their field of expertise.
4. The field must be one in which there is genuine knowledge.
5. There should be a consensus among the experts in the field regarding the particular matter in support of which the authority is cited.

Question 5

When are we prone to appeals to anecdotal evidence?

Answer 5

When an anecdote confirms a prejudice.

Question 6

When can anecdotal evidence generate an adequate conclusion?

Answer 6

When cited as counter-evidence to a universal claim.

Question 7

What is an appeal to ignorance?

Answer 7

Defense of a claim by appealing to the fact that there is no evidence that it is false.

Question 8

Give an example of an appeal to ignorance.

Answer 8

I believe in astrology and always read my horoscope in the paper. I can’t actually prove that it is true, but nobody can disprove it.

Question 9

When can the absence of contrary evidence be a good supporting reason for the conclusion?

Answer 9

If we have some evidence that supports the claim.

Question 10

What is the slippery slope fallacy?

Answer 10

The premises present a chain of predictions, each of which may be very strong, but the chain as a whole is weak. The conclusion of such an argument is not adequately supported.

Question 11

What is a common characteristic of a slippery slope argument?

Answer 11

Some of the steps in the chain are omitted.

Question 12

What are the three types of causal fallacies discussed?

Answer 12

1. Post hoc
2. Confusing cause and effect
3. Common cause

Question 13

What is a post hoc fallacy?

Answer 13

Arguing that something that occurs before some event must be its cause.

Question 14

Give an example of a post hoc argument.

Answer 14

The stove in your apartment was working perfectly until you moved in, but the next day the oven stopped working. It must be something you’re doing that has caused the problem.

Question 15

What is the fallacy of confusing cause and effect?

Answer 15

When an effect is identified as a cause and the cause is identified as the effect.

Question 16

Give an example of an argument that confuses cause and effect.

Answer 16

As the population as dark spotted moths grew larger during the Industrial Revolution, smog also grew worse. Thus, the increasing number of dark spotted moths was the source of the smog and air pollution.

Question 17

What is the common cause fallacy?

Answer 17

Claiming that there is a causal relation between A and B when in fact both A and B are caused by a third factor, C.

Question 18

Give an example of a common cause argument.

Answer 18

Recent studies have shown that people regarded as successful have much larger vocabularies than average. This is no accident. Having an extensive vocabulary is an important factor in producing success.