UNIVERSITI TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN (UTAR)
CENTRE FOR FOUNDATION STUDIES
FOUNDATION IN ARTS
FHHM1012 CRITICAL THINKING
Tutorial 6
Valid A deductive argument in which the conclusion follows necessarily
Argument from the premises. The premise supports the conclusion.
A deductive argument in which the conclusion does not follow
Invalid
necessarily from the premises – there is no connection between the
argument
premise and the conclusion.
Example:
If I’m in Asia Jaya Park, then I must be in Petaling Jaya.
I am in Asia Jaya Park.
Hence, I must be in Petaling Jaya.
Analysis:
If Asia Jaya Park then Petaling Jaya
Asia Jaya Park A = Asia Jaya Park
Petaling Jaya B = Petaling Jaya
Thus, this argument is valid since it fits the valid form:
If A then B.
A.
Therefore, B.
Task 1
Analyze whether the following arguments are valid or invalid.
No Argument Analysis Form
If I’m in Asia Jaya Park, then I must be in PJ. If A then B.
Eg I am in Asia Jaya Park. A. Valid
Hence, I must be in PJ. Therefore, B.
If I’m in Selangor then I’m in Malaysia.
1 But I’m not in Selangor.
Thus, I’m not in Malaysia.
If you’ve had too many drinks then you shouldn’t
2 drive home. You have had too many drinks. So, you
shouldn’t drive home.
If someone is homeless then they have only
3 themselves to blame. It follows that Mahmud has only
himself to blame since he is now homeless.
I’ve heard it said, “Join the Navy if you want to see the
4 world.” Actually, I’m very content to stay in the good
old U.S.A. So, I won’t join the Navy.
If I had good grades, I would get into UTAR.
5 I did not get into UTAR.
Therefore, I did not get good grades.
Hurricane season will continue to grow worse. If
nothing significant is done about global warming then
6 hurricane season will continue to grow worse and
nothing significant is being done about global
warming.
If drug use is on the rise then the War on Drugs has
7 failed. Consequently, the War on Drugs has not failed
because drug use is going down.
If Karthik has quit school, then Shalini will need a new
tennis partner.
8
Shalini does not need a new tennis partner.
So, Karthik has not quit school.
Task 2
The following arguments are deductive. Determine whether the arguments are sound
or unsound.
No Argument Form
If the moon is made of green cheese, then astronauts can eat
1 moon rocks. The moon is made of green cheese. Therefore,
astronauts can eat moon rocks.
If Barack Obama is President of the USA, then Michelle Obama
is First Lady.
2
Barack Obama is President of the USA.
Therefore, Michelle Obama is First Lady.
All rabbits are mammals.
3 All mammals have lungs.
Therefore, all rabbits have lungs.
4 No mammals have lungs.
No whales are mammals.
Therefore, no whales have lungs.
5 If Abraham Lincoln died of cancer, then he is dead today.
Abraham Lincoln is dead today.
Therefore, he died of cancer.
6 All children like sweets.
My Mathematics lecturer is a child.
Therefore, my Mathematics lecturer likes sweets.
7 No insects have six legs.
All spiders are insects.
Therefore, no spiders have six legs.
8 If Steve Job is poor, then I’m a monkey’s uncle.
Steve Job is poor.
So I’m a monkey’s uncle.
9 If a thing is a rectangle, then it’s not a circle.
This page is a rectangle.
So, this page is not a circle.
Task 3
The following arguments are inductive. Determine whether the arguments
are cogent or uncogent.
No Argument Form
Overeating causes obesity.
1
Therefore, if you constantly overeat, you will probably be obese.
The vast majority of Malaysian Prime Ministers have been men.
2 Therefore, the next Malaysian Prime Minister will probably be a
man.
Many housewives around the world cook daily.
3 Therefore, somewhere in the world, a housewife must be cooking
today.
Ninety-five percent of Koreans jog daily.
4 PSY is a Korean.
So, PSY probably jogs daily.
Very few people in this country are named Obadiah.
5 Therefore, the next person I meet is unlikely to be named
Obadiah.
Most boys like to play sports.
6 Beyoncé is a boy.
Therefore, Beyoncé probably likes to play sports.
Most painters are very talented.
7 Michael Jackson was a painter.
Therefore, Michael Jackson probably was talented.
Coca-Cola is an extremely popular soft drink.
8 Therefore, probably someone, somewhere, is drinking a Coke
right this minute.
When Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, he left behind a gold-
9 plated bicycle, which he used to ride around on the moon’s
surface. Probably that bicycle is still up there on the moon.
