PHIL 1500 – Critical Thinking

Practice Exam for Unit I

 

Number the statements in the following arguments, then diagram them. (10 points each.)

 

1.      It must be concluded that beliefs about how things appear to us are ill-suited to play the role demanded of them by foundations theories. We rarely have any such beliefs. We most definitely do not have enough beliefs of this sort to base all our other beliefs upon them. Furthermore, such beliefs would not provide a firm foundation because they are not self-justifying.

                       John Pollock and Joseph Cruz, Contemporary Theories of Knowledge

 

2.      Tenure for college faculty should be abolished. Colleges are unable to terminate unproductive faculty protected by tenure. And faculty tend to oppose all change in programs regardless of whether it improves the quality of education. Furthermore, the tenure system actually endangers academic freedom rather than protecting it. Young faculty must kowtow to the opinions of senior faculty in order to be awarded tenure in the first place.

 

3.      The situation in Bosnia directly affects the national interests of the other European nations. It does not directly affect the national interests of the United States. The U.S. should not intervene in situations which do not affect its national interests. Furthermore, according to the Pentagon, if we do not commit ground troops to Bosnia, intervention there will be ineffective. We do not want to commit ground troops. So U.S. intervention in Bosnia is a bad idea.

Symbolize the following arguments showing all the logical connectives used. Circle the letter in each atomic sentence that you will use in your symbolization. (12 points each.)

 

4.      Flannery is either a redhead or a blonde. She must be a redhead. We all know that a girl has more fun if she is a blonde. But Flannery never seems to have much fun.

 

5.      If I study, I won’t have much free time. If I don’t study, my parents will cut off my allowance. I won’t go to many parties if I don’t have much free time or my parents cut off my allowance. So it looks like there won’t be many parties for me.

 

6.      Experience is a necessary condition for a good job. You won’t have experience unless you get an internship. And you won’t get an internship unless you keep your grades up. So either you keep your grades up or you won’t get a good job.

 

7.      Carter and Powell both oppose war with Iraq. If Powell opposes war with Iraq, then the Administration is divided on the issue. The Europeans will not support a war unless the United Nations Security Council supports it. If the Administration is divided and the Europeans do not support a war, then there will be no war. So there will not be a war with Iraq unless the U.N. Security Council supports it.

 

8.      Construct an argument for or against the following claim: All college exams should be open-book. Your argument should contain at least five statements and should not violate either the law of grouping or the law of direction. Number and diagram your argument. (22 points.)

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