Logic & Reasoning

Question 1

Wason Selection Task

Answer 1

• Participants are given 4 cards with a letter on one side and a number on the other
• Task is to make sure that: if there is a vowel on one side of the card, it must have an even number on the other
• Decide which cards to turn over in order to make the statement true

Question 2

Syntax

Answer 2

• The sequence or order in which words are arranged

- Rules that govern the way words in a sentence come together

Question 3

Reasoning by Syntax

Answer 3

People might reason by rearranging/manipulating sentences

Question 4

Sound Arguments

Answer 4

Premises are true

Question 5

Valid Arguments

Answer 5

Manipulation of syntax follows proper rules

Question 6

Modus Ponens

Answer 6

• If P, then Q. P, therefore Q.
• Q necessarily follows P.
• Ex. “If today is Thursday, then I will go to work.” “Today is Thursday. Therefore, I will go to work.”
• Can follow logically even if premises aren’t true.

Question 7

Modus Tollens

Answer 7

• If P, then Q. Not Q, therefore not P.

- Ex. “If there is fire here, then there is oxygen here.” “There is no oxygen here. Therefore, there is no fire.”

Question 8

Logical Fallacies

Answer 8

Prohibited syntactic manipulation

Question 9

Affirming the Consequent

Answer 9

• “If” = antecedent; “Then” = consequent
• “If P, then Q. Q, therefore P.”
• Falsely affirming “then” condition

Question 10

Denying the Antecedent

Answer 10

• “If P, then Q. Not P, therefore not Q”
• Denying the “if”
• Ex. “If I’m asleep, my eyes are closed.” “I’m not asleep, therefore my eyes are not closed.”

Question 11

Disjunctive Syllogism

Answer 11

• “P or Q. Not P, therefore Q”

- Disjunction = “or” clause

Question 12

Analogies

Answer 12

• Analogies involve finding a relation that fits for the first two subjects and applying this to the third subject in order to come up with a fourth
• Ex. “ABOVE is to BELOW as BROTHER is to _________ (sister)”
• Analogies are used to find relationships

Question 13

Mental Models

Answer 13

People construct mental models of the possibilities compatible with the premises
- Need to represent what is true, but not what is false (must be something that IS)

Question 14

Transitive Inference

Answer 14

• E.g. “Albert is taller than Bill & Carl is shorter than Bill”
• Therefore, Carl is shorter than Albert.