Critical Thinking for College Success

Module 12 Homework

Deductive Arguments in Passages (2 pts. each)

For each of the following passages, identify which of the 5 valid deductive arguments is
present in the passage. Partial credit is possible if you write out the arguments in the form
and identify the premises and conclusions. Add space as needed.

1. Have you heard? The Phoenix Mars lander exposed a bright, white substance
while digging in the Martian soil. The substance vanished after being exposed to
sunlight for several days. The substance must have been water ice if it vanished
when exposed to sunlight for several days. Thus, the Phoenix lander uncovered
water ice on Mars.

Type of Deductive Argument: Modus Ponens (MP)

Premises and Conclusion in Form:
P1 If (A) the substance vanished after being exposed to sunlight for several days., then
(B) it must have been water ice.
P2 (A)The substance vanished after being exposed to sunlight for several days)

.: Thus, the Phoenix lander uncovered water ice on Mars.

2. If money is the most important thing in life, then we would pursue it for its own
sake. Since we do not pursue money for its own sake, but rather as a means to
achieving something else, money is not the most important thing in life.

Type of Deductive Argument: MT (Modus Tollens)

Premises and Conclusion in Form:
P1 If money is the most important thing in life ( If A), then we would pursue it for
its own sake. (then B)
P2 We do not pursue money for its own sake (Not B)
----------------------------------------------------
.: Therefore, money is not the most important thing in life. (Not A)

3. Many states are beginning to consider policies that pit the economic growth of
today against the future well-being of our grandchildren. I’m talking about
‘fracking’. Should we permit fracking to occur or not? Fracking cracks the layers
of rock deep below us releasing natural gas. If we permit fracking, then many
jobs will be created but we’ll have environmental problems for decades to come.
Just look at the YouTube videos of exploding water faucets. But if we don’t allow
fracking to occur, then we may not have as many jobs, but our children will still
have a pristine land to fish and hike in.

Type of Deductive Argument: Dilemma (D)

Premises and Conclusion in Form:
P1: Either we permit fracking or (A) we don’t allow fracking to occur (B)
 P2 If we permit fracking (If A) , then many jobs will be created (then B)
P3 If we don’t allow fracking to occur, then we may not have as many jobs(then
B)
----------------------------------------------------
.: Therefore, many jobs many jobs will be created or we may not have as
many jobs.

4. We need to decide whether jobs are more important than fishing. Either we have
more jobs now through fracking and no fishing later or fewer jobs now and good
fishing later. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want to live in a place where
I couldn’t fish. So, I would say we pass on the fracking jobs and keep our good
fishing.

Type of Deductive Argument: Disjunctive Syllogism (DS)

Following the above information that we were given, we see the premise:
“but I wouldn’t want to live in a place where I couldn’t fish”. It means: I want to live
in a place where there has good fishing later. It is opposite to the premise A
(Not A)

Premises and Conclusion in Form:

P1 (A) We have more jobs now through fracking and no fishing later or fewer
jobs now and good fishing later.(B)
P2 (Not A) We have not more jobs now through fracking and good fishing later

.: Therefore, we have fewer jobs now and good fishing later

5. When I had kids of my own, I realized the challenges of raising children. And
once I realized this, then I noticed more than ever my own imperfections in
dealing with these challenges. And when I noticed my own imperfections, I
began to think more kindly of my own parents’ imperfections. So, be careful. If
you have kids, you’ll end up thinking more kindly of your own parents.

Type of Deductive Argument: Hypothetical Syllogism (HS)

Premises and Conclusion in Form:

P1 If I had kids of my own, then I realized the challenges of raising children
P2 If I realized this, then I noticed more than ever my own imperfections in
dealing with these challenges.
P3 If I noticed my own imperfections, I began to think more kindly of my own
parents’ imperfections

.: Therefore, if you have kids, you’ll end up thinking more kindly of your own
parents.
6. After Cindy left the gas pump, she noticed that the “Check Engine” light was on.
From past experience, she knew that it could have come on because the gas cap
was not secure or, otherwise, she should take her car in to her mechanic. After
pulling off the road, she noticed that her gas cap was securely tightened.
Therefore, she thought she had better get it checked out by her mechanic.

Type of Deductive Argument: Disjunctive Syllogism (DS)

Premises and Conclusion in Form:
P1: (A) Either she knew that it could have come one because the gas cap was not
secure or (B) she should take her car in to her mechanic.
P2: She knew that her gas cap was securely tightened. (Not A)

.: Therefore, ) she should take her car in to her mechanic / gets it checked out by
her mechanic. (B)

7. The fire inspector concluded that the house fire was deliberately set ablaze. The
owner had claimed to have fallen asleep after starting to cook a pot of potatoes
and only awoke after the kitchen was fully on fire. However, after looking at the
charred evidence, he noticed that a pile of newspapers underneath oak cabinets
had also been very near the boiling pot.
Type of Deductive Argument: Disjunctive Syllogism (DS)
Premises and Conclusion in Form:
P1 Either he have fallen asleep after starting to cook a pot of potatoes and only
awoke after the kitchen was fully on fire or a pile of newspapers underneath oak
cabinets had also been very near the boiling pot.
P2 He haven’t fallen asleep after starting to cook a pot of potatoes and only
awoke after the kitchen was fully on fire

.: Therefore, the house fire was deliberately set ablaze/ the kitchen was fully on
fire when a pile of newspapers underneath oak cabinets had also been very near
the boiling pot.

8. (from Weston, p. 7) If you study other cultures, then you realize the variety of
human customs. If you realize the variety of human customs, then you question
your own customs. If you question your own customs, then you become more
tolerant. Therefore, if you study other cultures, then you become more tolerant.
Type of Deductive Argument: Hypothetical Syllogism (HS)
Premises and Conclusion in Form:
P1 If (A) you study other cultures, then (B) you realize the variety of human
customs.
P2 If (B) you realize the variety of human customs, then (C) you question your
own customs.
P3 If (C) you question your own customs, then(D) you become more tolerant.

.: Therefore, if (A) you study other cultures, then (D) you become more tolerant.
9. If America is going to be able to remain competitive in the globalized economy, it
needs to invest in a highly educated workforce. However, we are currently
cutting government funding off higher and technical education. So, it doesn’t
look like we are going to keep our competitive edge.

Type of Deductive Argument: Modus Tollens ( T)

Premises and Conclusion in Form:

P1: ( If A) If America is going to be able to remain competitive in the globalized
economy, then( B) it needs to invest in a highly educated workforce.
P2: We are currently cutting government funding off higher and technical
education. (Not B)

.: Therefore, it doesn’t look like we are going to keep our competitive edge.

it needs to invest in a highly educated workforce # we are currently cutting

government funding off higher and technical education.

10.Either you understand this material or you need to talk with the instructor about
what you do not understand. You have not talked with the instructor. Therefore,
you must understand the material.

Type of Deductive Argument: Disjunctive Syllogism (DS)

Premises and Conclusion in Form:
P1 (A) You understand this material or you need to talk with the instructor
about what you do not understand. (B)
P2 You have not talked with the instructor. (Not B)

.: Therefore, you must understand the material. (A)