Unit 6

Question 1

Statistical Syllogism

Answer 1

they have the form of syllogisms, with the difference that their first premises start with the words “most,” “many,” “a few,” and so on, rather than “all,” “no,” or “some.”

Question 2

Particular to General

Question 3

General to particular

Question 4

Criticisms of arguments with Statistical Premises (General to particular argument) 3

Answer 4

1. Attacking the premise
2. Noting that the number of premises dilutes the strength of the conclusion
3. Pointing out the total available evidence was not used (counterargument).

Question 5

General form of an argument from analogy?

Answer 5

1. Both thing 1 and thing 2 have characteristics A, B, C…
2. ## Thing 1 has the additional Z characteristic(Likely) Thing 2 has characteristic Z

Question 6

Ways of criticizing Analogies?

Answer 6

1. Point our dissimilarities that make it unlikely that Thing 2 has the characteristic Z
2. Challenge the premises:
   a) question whether the similarities hold
   b) Cast doubt on whether Thing 1 has characteristic Z