True or False: Modus ponens reasoning is the process of forming the belief that a statement is false.

The following T/F statements refer to the notes on Belief Formation 1. Modus ponens reasoning is the process of forming the belief that a statement is false. True? 2. “If the moon is made of green cheese then pigs can fly. The moon is made of green cheese. Therefore, pigs can fly” is a well-structured argument. 3. By noting that moon rocks are made of rock and not green cheese, one would be refuting the above argument’s claim of sufficiency. 4. Modus tollens reasoning is the process of forming the belief that a statement is true. 5. “If the moon is made of green cheese then pigs can fly. Pigs cannot fly. Therefore, the moon is not made of green cheese” is a well-structure... click for more

Scientific Groups Disagree About Neanderthals’ Ability to Speak

The following T/F statements refer to this news report: Scientific Groups Disagree About Neanderthals’ Ability to Speak Recent reports indicating that Neanderthals were able to speak were wrong, researchers say. Scientists from Duke University reported in May that a bony canal in the skulls of Neanderthals called the hypoglossal canal—which carries the nerve complex required for speech—is as large as that in modern humans, indicating a capacity for speech. But a UC Berkeley team reported in Tuesday’s proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that the hypoglossal canals of many primates—which do not speak—are as large as those of humans. They conclude that the size of the hypog... click for more

The following multiple choice answers refer to informal fallacies.

A. If you want a life full of sexual pleasure, don’t graduate from college. A study to be published next month in American Demographics magazine shows that people with the most education have the least amount of sex. 26. (a) Appeal to emotion (b) Begging the Question (c) False Cause B. If science wishes to argue that we cannot know what was going on in [the gorilla] Binti’s head when she acted as she did, science must also acknowledge that it cannot prove that nothing was going on. It is because of our irresolvable ignorance, as much as fellow feeling, that we should give animals the benefit of doubt and treat them with the respect we accord ourselves. 27. (a) Argument From Ignora... click for more

Symbolizing Arguments

Symbolize the following argument: If a person's soul is in proper order, then he or she will be ethical. Hence, if a person is not ethical, then his or her soul is not in proper order. But if a person's soul is not in proper order, then he or she will not be happy. Therefore, if a person is not ethical, then he or she will not be happy.

Symbolizing Arguments

Symbolize the following argument: Logic is indeed worthy of being cultivated, provided Aristotle is regarded as infallible; but he is not. Logic, therefore, is not worthy of being cultivated.