Logic Writing Assignment #1

Take a position on the Capital Punishment debate (for or against) and formulate a complex argument in support of your position using at least 3 interconnected arguments that each take either the Barbara or Darii form:

Barbara Darii

1. All M are P 1. All M are P

2. All S are M 2. Some S are M

3. Therefore, all S are P 3. Therefore, some S are P

Guidelines

1. Write the arguments in standard form.

2. Make sure to follow the form of the argument exactly: (A) Every statement should start with “All’ or ‘Some’ and should have a copula (is, are, etc. – a form of the verb ‘to be’); (B) Don’t mix up the subject and predicate; (C) Make sure to replace the same letter with exactly the same terms; (D) Start each conclusion with ‘Therefore’.

3. The ultimate conclusion should read either “Therefore all capital punishment is immoral” or “Therefore some capital punishment is morally acceptable”.

4. It is easiest to work backwards from the final conclusion.

5. Pick the most controversial premise in the final argument as the conclusion of the second argument and make sure to state it in exactly the same way. For the conclusion of the first argument, pick the most controversial premise in the second argument, or the remaining conclusion in the final argument if it is more controversial than either of the premises in the second argument.

6. Work on your assignment alone – Plagiarism will not be tolerated.

7. Use 12 point type. If your writing assignment is more than 1 page long, use page numbers and make sure to staple the pages together.

Sample Arguments

Barbara

1. All killing of innocent beings with human DNA is the killing of innocent human beings.

2. All abortion is the killing of innocent beings with human DNA.

3. Therefore, all abortion is the killing of innocent human beings.

1. All killing of innocent human beings is murder.

2. All abortion is the killing of innocent human beings.

3. Therefore, all abortion is murder.

1. All murder is immoral.

2. All abortion is murder.

3. Therefore, all abortion is immoral.

Darii

1. All cases of the mother killing an entity within her body that lacks the ability to survive on its own are cases of the mother killing an entity within her body that is not a person in the moral sense.

2. Some abortion is the mother killing an entity within her body that lacks the ability to survive on its own.

3. Therefore, some abortion is the mother killing an entity within her body that is not a person in the moral sense.

1. All cases of the mother killing an entity within her body that is not a person in the moral sense is the exercise of the mother’s rights.

2. Some abortion is the mother killing an entity within her body that is not a person in the moral sense.

3. Therefore, some abortion is the exercise of the mother’s rights.

1. All exercise of the mother’s rights is morally acceptable.

2. Some abortion is the exercise of the mother’s rights.

3. Therefore, some abortion is morally acceptable.