Critical Thinking Final

Front 1

categorical logic rules

Back 1

1. at least one affirmative premise 2. if a premise is negative the conclusion is negative and vise versa 3. middle term must be distributed at least once 4. if it is distributed in the conclusion it must be distributed in a premise

Front 2

hypothetical syllogisms

Back 2

"if/then" statements
2 premises
1 conclusion
valid is affirming the antecedent or denying the consequent

Front 3

disjuctive syllogisms

Back 3

"either P or Q" statements
is valid is one of the disjuncts is denied and the other is affirmed in the conclusion

Front 4

distributed

Back 4

includes all members of a class

Front 5

undistributed

Back 5

does not include all members of a class

Front 6

enthymes

Back 6

a syllogism missing a premise (1 premise and 1 conclusion)

Front 7

valid argument

Back 7

if when all premises are true the conclusion cannot be false

Front 8

sound argument

Back 8

is a valid argument and all premises are true

Front 9

against the person (ad hominem)

Back 9

an argument is rejected on the bases of some irrelevant fact about the author of or the person presenting the claim
ex. Denying an argument on abortion just because the arguer is a priest

Front 10

appeal to authority

Back 10

arguing for some point not because it is well grounded in fact or logic but because of the authority of the person who presented it
ex. Believing a scientist when they say abortion is wrong even thought they do not work in women's science

Front 11

slippery slope

Back 11

when a person asserts that some event must inevitably follow from another without any argument for the inevitability of the event in question
ex. The US shouldn't get involved militarily in other countries. Once the government sends in a few troops, it will then send in thousands to die

Front 12

false dilemma

Back 12

the situation in which two alternative points are held to be the only two options, when in reality there exist other options
ex. mark is late for work. either his car broke down or he overslept.

Front 13

appeal to force

Back 13

an argument where force is given as a justification for the conclusion
ex. if you do not agree that black is the best color i will have to take serious measures.

Front 14

appeal to pity

Back 14

when someone tries to win support for their argument by exploiting their opponent's feelings of pity or guilt
ex. i really deserve a raise. unless i make more money i may lose my home.

Front 15

straw person

Back 15

based on misrepresentation of an opponent's position
ex. I dont think children should play in the streets. I think it would be foolish to lock up children all day with no fresh air.

Front 16

hasty generalization

Back 16

draws conclusions about a population based on too little sample or evidence
ex. i love the first song so i'll love the rest of the cd

Front 17

begging the question

Back 17

argument in which a premise presupposes the conclusion in some way (circular reasoning)
ex. happiness is total contentment because a totally content person is someone who is always happy

Front 18

complex question

Back 18

when someone asks a question that presupposes something that has not been proven
ex. Are you still holding to your own simple-minded views and denying i have wiser and more intelligent ideas?

Front 19

argument from ignorance

Back 19

when a premise is claimed to be true only because is have not been proven false or vise versa
ex. no one saw her get pushed so she must have fell

Front 20

argument to the masses

Back 20

makes an emotion appeal to the public based on culture
ex. Be American and buy American cars. Vouched for by your ancestors.

Front 21

false cause

Back 21

one thing causes another simply because the two are associted on a regular basis
ex. after refusing to send on a chain letter that threatens injury you break your arm.

Front 22

categorical "a" statement

Back 22

every s is p (d/u)

Front 23

categorical "e" statment

Back 23

no s is p (d/d)

Front 24

categorical "i" statment

Back 24

some s is p (u/u)

Front 25

categorical "o" statement

Back 25

some s is not p (u/d)