Logic Writing Assignment #5

In the final writing assignment (#7), you will write an essay on the way that logic is used in your major. This paper will prepare you for that assignment by addressing some (but not all) of the issues that will be found in this later paper. State what your major is, and write at least one paragraph in response to each of the following questions. If you don’t know the answer to any of these questions, figure out the answer by doing some research online or talking to your departmental advisor. State answers in your own words and cite any webpages that influenced your answers – otherwise you are committing Plagiarism.

1. Deductive Arguments are used to apply general rules (Categorical Syllogisms) or particular rules (Propositional Arguments) to specific cases. What are the primary ways that your major applies rules to specific cases? Illustrate with at least one example.

2. Inductive Generalizations are used to form general principles that describe patterns or guide action. What are the primary ways that your major forms general principles? Illustrate with at least one example.

3. Analogical Arguments extend our knowledge about certain things by comparing them to other things that we know better. What are the primary ways that your major generates knowledge on the basis of comparisons? Illustrate with at least one example

4. Causal Arguments and Inferences to the Best Explanation are used to judge competing explanations (e.g., explanations of the cause of a physical event, of the goal or motivation behind a person’s actions, or the meaning of a statement) in order determine which one is most appropriate. What are the primary types of explanations that are used in your major, and what are the primary ways that your major judges competing explanations? Illustrate with at least one example.

Make sure that your papers are clearly written – i.e., that the meaning is clear enough that any other student would be able to understand it. Papers will be downgraded for spelling, grammatical, and stylistic errors. Cite all sources that influenced your answers, using any standard citation method that includes all of the relevant information.

Format: 12 point type, number and staple pages if more than one page.