Lesson 4

Question 1

Valid Argument

Answer 1

Conclusion follows if premises are true

Question 2

Invalid Argument

Answer 2

Conclusion Does not follow

Question 3

Flaw Flow

Answer 3

• Find answer that shows why the stimulus is invalid
  1) ID Prompt “Flaw” “Faulty” “Vulnerable to criticism”
  2) Read stimulus and ID conclusion
  3) If it is a common flaw then pick that

3) If it is not a common flaw then anticipate and look for missing assumptions. Ask “How could it be that the evidence is true but the conclusion is false?”

Question 4

Types of Flaws

Answer 4

1) Causal Flaw
2) Exclusivity Flaw
3) Inverse/Converse
4) Equivocation Flaw
5) Sampling Flaw
6) Comparison Flaw
7) Ad Hominem Flaw
8) Composition
9) Absence of Evidence
10) Temporal
11) Logical Force Flaw
12) Perception vs Reality
13) Percent amount
14) Circular Flaw

Question 5

Causal Flaw

Answer 5

• Stimulus draws conclusion from the facts that 2 things are related
• > a) Correlation does not equal causation, could be coincidence
• > b) Alternate cause, 3rd thing causes both
• > c) Reversed causality

Trigger: Conditional Language in conclusion
“Resulting” “Bring about” “Cause”

Question 6

Exclusivity Flaw

Answer 6

• Stimulus is assuming that an option(s) that are acceptable are the only ones available
• > Necessary Language in conclusion
• Stimulus neglects that two things could be true together
• > “Entirely” “Solely”

-Stimulus neglects that 2 things that are true separately, might not be true together

Question 7

Inverse/Converse Flaw

Answer 7

-Can diagram

Trigger: Conditional Language

Question 8

Equivocation Flaw

Answer 8

Very common

• > 2 similar concepts are treated like they’re the same thing
• > Trigger: Same subject in premise and conclusion but different description

Not as common
-> 1 word/phrase is used in two different ways

Question 9

Sampling Flaw

Answer 9

Relying on a bad sample
-Unrepresentative of the whole
-Lack of control group
-self-selected sample
-Too Small
Trigger: Mention of study/experiment/survey

Question 10

Comparison Flaw

Answer 10

-Stimulus compares two things to one another that might not be comparable

Question 11

Ad Hominem Flaw

Answer 11

Stimulus rejects argument by questioning the person making it (usually on past experiences)

Question 12

Composition Flaw

Answer 12

Stimulus is assuming that whats true of a whole is true of its parts and vice versa

Question 13

Absence of Evidence Flaw

Answer 13

Stimulus concludes that something is false because there is no evidence that it is true and vice versa

Question 14

Temporal Flaw

Answer 14

Stimulus is using evidence from one time period to prove something is true in a different time period. ““Just b/c it was true then, doesn’t mean that it is true now”

Question 15

Logical Force Flaw

Answer 15

Stimulus is drawing a stronger conclusion that the evidence

-> Some dogs are brown, therefore all dogs are brown

Question 16

Perception vs Reality

Answer 16

Stimulus is equivocating on what’s true and what people say/believe

Question 17

Percent Amount

Answer 17

Stimulus is trying to draw a conclusion about an amount from evidence about a percent without knowing its baselines or vice versa

Question 18

Circular

Answer 18

Stimulus is using evidence that is itself supported by the conclusion