Select The True Statement About Deductive Arguments

Select The Statement That Is True Of Deductive Argumentsamost Reaso

Identify the core question in the provided selection, which involves evaluating statements about deductive arguments, examining the evaluation of a specific argument concerning horses and transportation, understanding statements about Socrates and "The Apology," summarizing a passage about voting, and interpreting Socrates' beliefs about death as expressed in "Phaedo."

Paper For Above instruction

Deductive reasoning, the process of drawing specific conclusions from general principles, is fundamental in logical argumentation. A key characteristic of deductive arguments is that if the premises are true and the reasoning is valid, then the conclusion necessarily follows, establishing a high level of certainty (Copi, Cohen, & McMahon, 2018). In contrast, inductive reasoning involves making probable generalizations based on specific observations, which do not guarantee the conclusion but rather support its likelihood (Johnson & Blair, 2014). Among the provided statements, the assertion that "Inferences rely on definition and form" accurately describes deductive reasoning, emphasizing the importance of logical structure and clarity in making valid conclusions (Kowalski, 2019). Therefore, the statement c.) "Inferences rely on definition and form" is true of deductive arguments.

The evaluation of the argument about humans using horses for transportation hinges on whether it is deductive or inductive and its logical properties. The argument states: "Humans have used horses for transportation for millions of years. Therefore, they will use horses for transportation next year." This conclusion is based on past behavior suggesting a pattern or trend, characteristic of inductive reasoning, which involves projecting past observations into future expectations. Given the reliance on historical data rather than logical necessity, the argument is an inductive, strong, but uncogent argument. Thus, the correct choice is b.) "inductive, strong, uncogent" (Trochim, 2020).

Regarding "The Apology," Socrates' philosophical stance and moral convictions are central. The false statement among the options is d.) "In the 'Apology,' Socrates argues that death is never a justifiable sentence for crimes because mortals should not act as gods." Instead, Socrates acknowledges the uncertainty of death and presents it as a potential blessing or divine transition, but he does not claim that death is unjustifiable based on divine authority (Plato, 1997). The other options correctly reflect Socrates' views; for example, he demonstrates a willingness to accept death for his philosophical convictions, as seen in b.) and c.).

The passage discusses the complex motivations behind voting behavior and proposes that non-voting can serve as a political expression or protest. The primary argument is that even if voter turnout is around 60%, not voting does not inherently reflect laziness or apathy but could signify legitimate democratic participation through protest or rejection of candidates. Among the summarized options, c.) "There are many reasons why citizens don't vote. Therefore, we should try to understand those reasons," best captures the passage's central idea that understanding voter non-participation is crucial, highlighting the legitimacy of non-voting as an act (Dahl, 2006).

Socrates' stance in "Crito" emphasizes his commitment to justice and social contracts, particularly his obligation to uphold the laws of Athens. The main point he makes in the dialogue is that he must accept his punishment because he benefits from the laws and social order of Athens; thus, b.) "Because Athens has provided benefits to Socrates, he must accept the punishment given to him," accurately reflects one of his key arguments about obeying the law and maintaining social harmony (Plato, 1997).

In "Phaedo," Socrates discusses his views on death and the soul. He suggests that death is a separation of the soul from the body and that philosophers should view death as a liberation of the soul from bodily constraints, allowing a clearer insight into eternal truths. The statement that best aligns with Socrates' beliefs is c.) "Death is nothing more than the separation of the body from the soul," reflecting his view that death is a transition rather than an evil, and philosophers should not fear it (Vlastos, 1980).

References

• Copi, I. M., Cohen, C., & McMahon, K. (2018). Introduction to Logic (14th ed.). Routledge.
• Johnson, R. H., & Blair, D. (2014). Logical Reasoning (10th ed.). Pearson.
• Kowalski, R. (2019). Logic and Critical Thinking. Cambridge University Press.
• Trochim, W. M. (2020). The Research Methods Knowledge Base. Atomic Dog Publishing.
• Plato. (1997). The Apology (G. M. A. Grube, Trans.). Hackett Publishing Company.
• Dahl, R. A. (2006). On Political Equality. In R. D. Putnam (Ed.), Democracy and Political Equality (pp. 3-38). Oxford University Press.
• Vlastos, G. (1980). Socrates: Ironist and Moral Philosopher. Cornell University Press.