Thinking and Reasoning

Question 1

What is logic?

Answer 1

• Standard for assessing quality of reasoning
• Objective analysis of inferential reasoning

Question 2

What is inference?

Answer 2

going beyond whats stated/presented

Question 3

What are the two components of arguments/propositions?

Answer 3

Premises: information that provides support for a conclusion.
Conclusion: statement that is claimed to follow logically from information contained in the premises.

Question 4

What is conditional reasoning?

Answer 4

How the words in connecting prepositions (connectives) influence inferential reasoning.

Question 5

What are the four types of inference?

Answer 5

1. Modus ponens
2. Affirmation of antecedent
3. Modus tollens
4. Denial of consequent

Question 6

Example of modus ponens.

Answer 6

If the cat is sitting on the mat (P)
Then the dog will bark (Q)
The cat is sitting on the mat. Therefore, the dog barks.

Question 7

Example of modus tollens.

Answer 7

If the telephone is working (P)
Then there will be a dialling tone (Q)
There is not a dialling tone. So, the telephone is not working.

Question 8

Example of affirmation of consequent.

Answer 8

If you are cheating on me (P)
Then you will be out of the house a lot (Q)
You are out of the house a lot. Therefore, you are cheating on me.

Question 9

Example of denial of antecedent.

Answer 9

If you are a socialist (P)
Then you are in favour of the welfare state (Q)
You are not a socialist. Therefore, you are not in favour of the welfare state.

Question 10

What are the principles of the mental rules theory (Rips, 1994)?

Answer 10

• The mind contains ‘mental logic’
• Only has rules for modus ponens not modus tollens

Question 11

What are the three stages of the mental rules theory (Rips, 1994)?

Answer 11

1. Present underlying logical form of argument.
2. Access appropriate rules
3. Evaluate argument components (e.g. conclusion)

Question 12

What is the Wason Selection Task (WST)?

Answer 12

Used to study performance on conditional reasoning prepositions/arguments/problems.
Comprises of four playing cards:
- Two cards each showing a vowel or a consonant
- Two cards each showing an odd or an even number

Question 13

What is rationality?

Answer 13

Hallmark of good thinking and reasoning. Thinking consistently with or based on logic.

Question 14

What are the two systems of rationality?

Answer 14

System 1 - reasoning according to achieving one’s goals and meeting one’s needs.
System 2 - reasoning according to normative standards