PHIL 107 Logic and Reasoning - Homework 1
1. What suppositions are necessary to make the following good arguments or at least in order to understand them as implying some sort of conclusion?
a. "This election is not an award for past performance; I’m not asking you to vote for me on the basis of the economy we have." - Al Gore, 9/3/00
b. "In years past, forced overtime was not much of an issue. But the new reality of the work force is that mothers and fathers are both working." - Robert Reich, 9/3/00
c. "By going right to choose Lieberman, Gore has boosted the odds that a significant number of leftists will choose to sacrifice this election, vote for Nader and thus scare the Democratic party straight." - Michael Kelly, 8/8/00.
d. "What the nation cannot afford [in this election] is to have its military used as a vehicle for demagoguery and the politics of fear, or to have its problems smothered in complacency." - Jim Hoagland, 8/24/00
2. Walton lists six major informal fallacies ("many questions", "ignoring the issue", "appeal to force/pity/popular appeal", "ad hominem", "appeal to modesty", "post hoc fallacy"). Offer examples of each one from recent news articles. (Without passing judgment on any of the candidates in the race, political campaigns should provide you with ample material here. In the event of abject failure to find anything, write a short example of your own, but do make an effort.)