PHIL 1500 - Exam 3A


Construct inheritance nets for each of the following examples. Propagate markers for every node in the net. Use the net to answer the question "yes", "no", or "can't tell." (15 points each)
1. (O)possums are (M)arsupials. Opossums normally live in (N)orth America. Marsupials normally live in the (S)outhern hemisphere. Animals from North America do not come from the southern hemisphere. Lynn has a pet opossum. Does it come from the southern hemisphere?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. (M)ovie stars are usually (W)ealthy. Wealthy people are normally (R)epublicans. But movie stars typically are not Republicans. Movies stars ordinarily support (G)un control, but Republicans typically do not support gun control. Arnold Swartzeneggar is a Republican movie star. Does he support gun control?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. University of Georgia (A)lumni typically were born in (G)eorgia. People who were born in Georgia were born in the (U)nited States. People who (C)ontribute to the University of Georgia Athletic Association are usually University of Georgia alumni. People who have a (S)wiss passport usually were not born in the United States. André holds a Swiss passport, but he contributes to the University of Georgia Athletic Association. Was André born in the United States?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. (B)ivalves and cephalo(P)ods are (M)olluscs. (O)ctopuses, (C)uttlefishes, and (N)autiluses are cephalopods. Molluscs typically have (S)hells, but a cephalopod might not have a shell. Nautiluses normally have shells. There is a cuttlefish in the Shedd Aquarium in St. Louis. Does it have a shell?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In each of the following, analyze the analogical argument by identifying its components. Then answer the questions. (20 points each.)
5. Joe, Jack, and Jean are Canadian. They all love ice hockey. Joe is from Toronto, Jack is from Vancouver, and Jean is from Montreal. Joe and Jack speak English. Jean probably speaks English as well.

The comparison set:

The target entity:

The comparison attribute(s):

The target attribute(s):

Is this argument weak or strong? Use the criteria we discussed in class to explain your answer.

Would the argument be stronger or weaker if we added that Joe, Jack, and Jean all went to the University of Calgary? Explain.

6. Dustin Hoffman, Tom Hanks, and Jack Nicholson all won Oscars for playing mentally disabled characters in movies that grossed over $30. Cuba Gooding, Jr., played a mentally disabled character in a movie that grossed over $30 million. He probably won an Oscar.

The comparison set:

The target entity:

The comparison attribute(s):

The target attribute(s):

Suppose we altered the conclusion to, "Cuba Gooding, Jr., was probably nominated for an Oscar." Does this make the argument stronger or weaker? Why?

Suppose we added the information that "Rainman" (Hoffman's movie) was produced by United Artists, "Forrest Gump" (Hank's movie) by Paramount Pictures, and "As Good As It Gets" (Nicholson's movie) by TriStar Pictures. How would this affect the strength of the argument? Explain.