Exam 1--Introduction to Philosophy
For this exam, you can use class notes and your textbook. The exam will be due at the beginning of class on Wednesday, October 12. If you miss class you are still responsible for the exam which is to say if you can't attend I expect an email to be in my Inbox waiting for me after class. Late papers (turned in prior to Saturday) may be accepted at a hefty penalty. Excessively late papers (Saturday and following) will not be accepted at all and will result in a 0 for the first exam. Please do not share your responses or information about your responses with your classmates. This exam will count for 5% of your final grade for the course.
DEDUCTIVE PATTERNS
For each of the following please indicate whether the argument pattern is valid or invalid and if it is valid please give the name of the pattern.
1) If she's a war hero, then she deserves a 21 gun salute.
She doesn't deserve a 21 gun salute.
Therefore, she's not a war hero.
2) If Cedar Point is open, then it's a weekend.
It's a weekend.
Therefore, Cedar Point is open.
3) If the enemy does not attack by the river, then we'll be able to secure the harbor.
The enemy attacked by river.
Therefore, we won't be able to secure the harbor.
4) If the British had not levied a stamp tax, then the colonists would not have revolted.
If the colonists had not revolted, then the War for Independence would never have begun.
Therefore, if the British had not levied the stamp tax, then the War for Independence would never have begun.
5) Either David aces his GRE, or he doesn't get into Harvard.
David did not ace his GRE.
Therefore, David doesn't get into Harvard.
6) If you want a good grade then you will study.
You study.
Therefore, you will get a good grade.
7) If you want the job done right then you hire a professional.
You don’t hire a professional.
Therefore, you don’t want the job done right.
8) If you study philosophy then you will go crazy.
You don’t study philosophy.
Therefore, you will not go crazy.
9) If God exists then you should obey His commands.
If God exists then He will make Himself evident in your life.
If you obey His commands He will make Himself evident in your life.
10) Either the Buckeyes win or I will be depressed all weekend.
The Buckeyes win.
Therefore, I will not be depressed all weekend.
FALLACIES
For each of the following please indicate whether or not it is a fallacy and if it is a fallacy please indicate which fallacy.
1) Most criminals in the United States learned English as their first language. Therefore, learning to speak English as a first language causes criminal behavior.
2) All the criminals that I know learned English as their first language. Therefore, all people who learned English as a first language are criminals.
3) Zelda is a college dropout. Therefore, her views on education are worthless.
4) Zelda got her ideas about education from a dream. Therefore, her views on education are worthless.
5) People who believe in the Bible don’t believe that animals change. But animals do change, so people who believe in the Bible are wrong.
6) A feature on 60 minutes showed how a police officer was stealing drugs from the evidence room and then selling it to his neighbors. Therefore all police officers are crooked.
7) Either you think every law abiding citizen should have the right to own a handgun or you are a communist.
8) The unborn have a right to life, therefore abortion is immoral.
9) First, I forwarded the email, and then I got a raise at work. Therefore, I got the raise because I forwarded the email.
10) A feather is light. Therefore, a feather can’t be dark.