Exercise 4-8

The statements in each of the following passages are numbered. Diagram each argument and answer the questions that follow each passage. Do the asterisked problems first and check your answers in chapter 8.

*1. [1] If Mary deliberately harmed Jane, then she ought to be punished. [2] Mary deliberately hurt Jane. Therefore, [3] Mary ought to be punished. And, since [4] Mary ought to be punished, [5] we should not invite her to dinner tonight.

1.1 Statement [1] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
1.2 Statement [2] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
1.3 Statement [3] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
1.4 Statement [4] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
1.5 Statement [5] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
1.6 This argument has (a) a premise indicator (b)a conclusion indicator (c) both a premise and a conclusion indicator (d) neither a premise indicator nor a conclusion indicator

*2. [1] You might think pornography is harmless, but let me tell you something. [2] If your mind is always in the gutter, you'll develop into a dirty old man. For, [3] the kinds of things you occupy your mind with will affect your character for the rest of your life.

2.1 Statement [1] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
2.2 Statement [2] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
2.3Statement [3] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
2.4 This argument has (a) a premise indicator (b) a conclusion indicator (c) both a premise and a conclusion indicator (d) neither a premise indicator nor a conclusion indicator

3. [1] A miracle is a violation of the laws of nature. [2] Unalterable experience has established these laws. Therefore, [3] to believe in a miracle is to reject unalterable experience as a basis for belief in the laws of nature. Since [4] science is based upon a firm belief in the laws of nature, [5] to believe in miracles is to reject science.

3.1 Statement [1] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
3.2 Statement [2] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
3.3 Statement [3] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
3.4 Statement [4] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
3.5 Statement [5] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
3.6 This argument has (a) a premise indicator (b)a conclusion indicator (c) both a premise and a conclusion indicator (d) neither a premise indicator nor a conclusion indicator

*4. [1] If God is All-Powerful, then nothing a human being does could affect Him. For, [2]if a human act could please or displease God, then human beings would have power over God. So, [3] either God is not All-Powerful or God doesn't give a hoot what you or I do. But, [4] if God isn't All-Powerful, then He isn't really God and He couldn't send us to Hell even if He wanted to. So, [5] sin at will; for, [6] either God doesn't care what we do or he cares but can't do anything about it.

4.1 Statement [1] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
4.2 Statement [2] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
4.3 Statement [3] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
4.4 Statement [4] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
4.5 Statement [5] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
4.6 Statement [6] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
4.7 This argument has (a) a premise indicator (b)a conclusion indicator (c) both a premise and a conclusion indicator (d) neither a premise indicator nor a conclusion indicator

*5. [1] To me the whole thing is simple. [2] If the white man's Holy book has the Truth, then there should be no disagreement about the Truth in the Holy Book. Therefore, [3] the white man's Holy Book does not have the Truth.

5.1 Statement [1] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
5.2 Statement [2] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
5.3 Statement [3] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
5.4 This argument has (a) a premise indicator (b) a conclusion indicator (c) both a premise and a conclusion indicator (d) neither a premise indicator nor a conclusion indicator

6. [1] Let me tell you my theory of crime and punishment. [2] If the behavior of criminals is determined by their heredity and environment, then they're not responsible for their crimes. [3] If they're not responsible for their crimes, then they shouldn't be punished. So, [4]if the behavior of criminals is determined by their heredity and environment, then they shouldn't be punished. For [5] a person should be punished only if he deserves it and a person can only deserve to be punished if they're responsible for their actions. [6] That's my opinion, anyway.

6.1 Statement [1] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
6.2 Statement [2] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
6.3 Statement [3] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
6.4 Statement [4] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
6.5 Statement [5] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
6.6 Statement [6] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
6.7 This argument has (a) a premise indicator (b)a conclusion indicator (c) both a premise and a conclusion indicator (d) neither a premise indicator nor a conclusion indicator

7. [1] A person should strive above all to achieve his or her own personal happiness. Therefore, [2] if an ethical system has the consequence of making people unhappy, it cannot be a good ethical system. So, [3] The ethics of self-sacrifice, of always choosing what will make other people happy, without regard for your own well-being, cannot be a good ethical system.

7.1 Statement [1] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
7.2 Statement [2] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
7.3 Statement [3] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
7.4 This argument has (a) a premise indicator (b)a conclusion indicator (c) both a premise and a conclusion indicator (d) neither a premise indicator nor a conclusion indicator

8. [1] To not hold a person responsible for their behavior is to treat them as if they were just a `thing', an object following laws of nature, not a human being with a moral sense and the freedom to choose to do or not do evil actions. Therefore, [2]to blame the environment or a person's heredity for their criminal behavior is to deny the criminal's humanity. [3] You might not agree, but that's how I feel.
8.1 Statement [1] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
8.2 Statement [2] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
8.3 Statement [3] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
8.4 This argument has (a) a premise indicator (b) a conclusion indicator (c) both a premise and a conclusion indicator (d) neither a premise indicator nor a conclusion indicator

9. "[1] If men and women try to create a society in which there is no fundamental agreement about good and evil they will fail; if, having based it on common agreement, the agreement goes, the society will disintegrate. For [2] society is not something that is kept together physically; it is held by the invisible bonds of common thought." ??Patrick Devlin, The Enforcement of Morals

9.1 Statement [1] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
9.2 Statement [2] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
9.3 This argument has (a) a premise indicator (b)a conclusion indicator (c) both a premise and a conclusion indicator (d) neither a premise indicator nor a conclusion indicator

10. "[1]...[S]tereotyping involves not merely the attitudes of rigid people discriminating against racial and ethnic outgroups. [2] It is an inherent and inevitable aspect of every human appraisal of every person encountered. [3] It is therefore misleading to inquire about the presence or absence of stereotypes and prejudgments." ??G. McCall and J. Simmons, "Social Perception and Appraisal"

10.1 Statement [1] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
10.2 Statement [2] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
10.3 Statement [3] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
10.4 This argument has (a) a premise indicator (b)a conclusion indicator (c) both a premise and a conclusion indicator (d) neither a premise indicator nor a conclusion indicator

*11. [1] If, throughout life, a person continues to define his or her life in terms of the concepts absorbed from his or her society as a child, then one will only be as rational and critical as one's society. [2] If a person is only as rational and critical as his or her own society, then in an irrational society, one will grow up to be irrational. Thus, [3] a person who does not reflect on the concepts absorbed as a child in an irrational society will grow up to be irrational. [4] Being unreflective, even in an irrational society, can be dangerous since [5] to be unreflective is to ignore life as one is actually finding it by experience to be. And [6] it is always more dangerous to live in a delusional world.

11.1 Statement [1] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
11.2 Statement [2] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
11.3 Statement [3] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
11.4 Statement [4] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
11.5 Statement [5] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
11.6 Statement [6] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
11.7 This passage has (a) a premise indicator (b)a conclusion indicator (c) both a premise and a conclusion indicator (d) neither a premise indicator nor a conclusion indicator

*12. [1] There are only three alternatives possible for the origin of the world: it is self?existent, or self?caused, or caused by some external agency. And [2] each of these alternatives is really without meaning to our minds. [3]We cannot conceive that a thing exists in its own right without any source beyond itself; [4]we cannot conceive self?creation, for [5] that implies that the thing exists before it exists; and [6] to refer it to an external creator merely defers the question. For [7] we have to ask, Whence the creator?" ??William Ernest Hocking, Types of Philosophy

12.1 Statement [1] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
12.2 Statement [2] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
12.3 Statement [3] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
12.4 Statement [4] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
12.5 Statement [5] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
12.6 Statement [6] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
12.7 Statement [7] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
12.8 This argument has (a) a premise indicator (b)a conclusion indicator (c) both a premise and a conclusion indicator (d) neither a premise indicator nor a conclusion indicator

13. [1] It is unreasonable to believe in punishment in the afterlife. For, [2] either there is no afterlife or there is one. [3] If there is none, then it is absurd to believe in punishment after death. [4] If there is an afterlife, then an all?just and all?merciful God would not punish a creature for being too weak to resist desires instilled by the Creator.

13.1 Statement [1] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
13.2 Statement [2] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
13.3 Statement [3] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
13.4 Statement [4] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
13.5 This argument has (a) a premise indicator (b)a conclusion indicator (c) both a premise and a conclusion indicator (d) neither a premise indicator nor a conclusion indicator

14. [1]The death penalty does not deter potential murderers. Therefore, [2] it ought to be abolished. And, [3] even if it does deter others, it still ought to be abolished; for, [4] the only reason which could justify intentionally killing anyone would be that the person deserved to be killed.

14.1 Statement [1] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
14.2 Statement [2] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
14.3 Statement [3] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
14.4 Statement [4] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
14.5 This argument has (a) a premise indicator (b)a conclusion indicator (c) both a premise and a conclusion indicator (d) neither a premise indicator nor a conclusion indicator

*15. "[1] Belief must have an object. For, [2] he that believes must believe something; and [3] that which he believes is called the object of his belief. [4] Of this object of his belief, he must have some conception, clear or obscure; for [5] although there may be the most clear and distinct conception of an object without any belief of its existence, there can be no belief without conception." ??Thomas Reid, Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man

15.1 Statement [1] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
15.2 Statement [2] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
15.3 Statement [3] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
15.4 Statement [4] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
15.5 Statement [5] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
15.6 This passage has (a) a premise indicator (b)a conclusion indicator (c) both a premise and a conclusion indicator (d) neither a premise indicator nor a conclusion indicator

16. Since [1] beauty "is no creature of our reason, since [2] it strikes us without any reference to use, and...since [3] the order and method of nature is generally very different from our measures and proportions, we must conclude that [4] beauty is, for the greater part, some quality in bodies acting mechanically upon the human mind by the intervention of the senses." ??Edmund Burke, On the Sublime and Beautiful, III.xii

16.1 Statement [1] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
16.2 Statement [2] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
16.3 Statement [3] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
16.4 Statement [4] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
16.5 This argument has (a) a premise indicator (b)a conclusion indicator (c) both a premise and a conclusion indicator (d) neither a premise indicator nor a conclusion indicator

17. [1] All is One. [2] If all is One, then individuals do not exist. Therefore, [3] individuals do not exist. And since [4] murder is the unjustified killing of one individual by another, it follows that [5] murder does not exist. [6] If murder does not exist, then my client cannot be guilty of murder. Therefore, [7] my client cannot be guilty of murder.

17.1 Statement [1] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
17.2 Statement [2] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
17.3 Statement [3] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
17.4 Statement [4] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
17.5 Statement [5] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
17.6 Statement [6] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
17.7 Statement [7] is (a) a premise (b) a conclusion (c) both a premise and a conclusion (d) neither a premise nor a conclusion
17.8 This argument has (a) a premise indicator (b)a conclusion indicator (c) both a premise and a conclusion indicator (d) neither a premise indicator nor a conclusion indicator