Module 2: Identify Non-Deductive Arguments

Question 1

What are the non-deductive argument types?

Answer 1

• Inductive Generalization
• Statistical Inductive
• Causal Inductive
• Inductive Analogy
• Abductive (IBE)
• Conductive (LOR)

Question 2

Inductive

Answer 2

• Using past experience to make future predictions
• empirical (observation)
• conclusion based on assumption that observed regularities will continue

Question 3

Inductive Generalization

Answer 3

• generalization made in conclusion most have same property

- follows pattern

Question 4

Statistical Inductive

Answer 4

• reason from characteristics generally present (or absent) within certain reference class to characteristics likely
• ie. [1] Most As have feature C
  [2] Q is an A
  [c] Q probably has feature C

Question 5

Causal Inductive

Answer 5

• conclusion claims one thing causes another
• process of elimination
  IE) clogged arteries cause heart attacks

Question 6

Inductive Analogy

Answer 6

• Using 1 case to clarify another

Question 7

Abductive (IBE)

Answer 7

• Inference to the Best Explanation
• Drawing conclusion based on explanation that best explains a state of events rather than from evidence provided by premises
• does not give certainty
• only uses info on hand
• rules out possible explanations until left with most plausible one, given evidence

Question 8

Conductive (LOR)

Answer 8

premises put forward being separately relevant to conclusion

Question 9

When I put bread in the toaster it does not work. In case there is a selected side for one slice, I check and move the bread from one side to the other, and the toaster still does not work. So the problem can’t be that i put the bread on the wrong side. When I check to make sure the toaster is plugged in, I find that it is. What can be the cause of this failure? It may be that the outlet I am using is controlled by a switch in the wall. I change the switch and the toaster works. So, probably the reason that it did not work before is that the switch controls the outlet.

Answer 9

Abductive (IBE)

Question 10

In a patch of rainforest in Brazil, approximately 1 square kilometre in size, it has been calculated that for each tree that is removed by selective logging, 27 other trees that are 10 cm or more in diameter are severely injured, and 40m of road need to be created. Experts have estimated on the basis of this sample that it will take 70 years for selectively logged forests to again resemble the state they were in when the selective logging was done. Therefore, if 400 square km of rainforest were to be logged in this way, appx 10,800 trees of more than 10 cm in diameter would be severely injured. Furthermore, 16,000m of road would need to be created; and the rainforest would not recover for some 28,000 years.

Answer 10

Inductive Generalization

Question 11

In seeking protection from ABC’s creditors in bankruptcy court, Sabbo Reef (chairman of ABC Company) is like the young man who killed his parents and then begged the judge for mercy because he was an orphan. During the last three years, Reef has stripped ABC of its most valuable assets and then pleaded poverty because the shrunken structure was losing money

Answer 11

Inductive Analogy

Question 12

We keep using oil in abundant quantities. We know we cannot keep doing that given that oil is going to run out. We know that using oil as we do makes us vulnerable to foreign powers and increases the national debt. We know that we have to develop alternative technologies and lifestyles. You can see for these reasons that we need to change.

Answer 12

Conductive (LOR)

Question 13

According to reports in July 2003, some 10% of the students accepted for university residence space at McMaster University and Wilfrid Laurier University for the fall of 2003 would not be able to take their place in residence. John is a student about to attend Wilfrid Laurier University, and he was accepted for residence. He has nothing to worry about, because the risk of his not finding that space is low.

Answer 13

Statistical inductive

Question 14

During the earthquake in China in the spring of 2008, some 6000 schools were destroyed. By contrast, gov’t buildings in the earthquake area survived intact. What was responsible for the comparative vulnerability of the schools? The matter is clear: corruption of local officials, who permitted shoddy worksmanship. Thousands of children died as a result.

Answer 14

Causal inductive

Question 15

Usually the Santa lie, befitting Christmas, is a white one. For starters, the lie is only temporary. You tell kids about Santa now, but you’ll straighten them out later. The deception isn’t forever. And the deception is a mild one. You don’t take a falsehood and call it truth; you take fiction and call it truth– a smaller distortion. This means the loss of the illusion is gentler. When kids are older they don’t lose Santa entirely, they just think of him in a different way. Finally, the deception is good for kids. Believing in Santa adds magic and excitement to Christmas; the anticipation is keener, the delight sharper. Parental love is fine and even profound, but a gift from the North Pole is far more exotic.

Answer 15

Conductive (LOR)

Question 16

Using low-calorie food products actually make people gain weight. Why? They don’t have the satisfaction that comes from consuming sugars and fats and, in addition, they eat more because they believe these foods will not be fattening.

Answer 16

Causal Inductive

Question 17

Barney’s fingerprints were on the gun found by Fred’s body, a shirt in Barney’s size, said by his wife to belong to Barney, was found a the scene of the crime, and lab analysis showed that Barney’s DNA matched that found on blood stains on the sleeve of the shirt. Therefore, Barney probably murdered Fred.

Answer 17

Abductive (IBE)

Question 18

“You can get a large audience together for a strip-tease act– that is, to watch a girl undress on stage. Now suppose you came to a country where you could fill a theatre simply by bringing a covered plate onto the stage and then slowly lifting the cover so as to let everyone see, just before the lights went out, that is contained a mutton chop or a bit of bacon, would you not think that in that country something had gone wrong with the appetite for food?”

Answer 18

Inductive analogy