I came across an interesting book called How to Think Straight. Its not a logic book, its more conversational in tone, written for average non-students. But it has something really neat at the end. A logic test for the average reader, using very emotional hot button issues as the arguments. The problem is that the book is from the 1930s, so the hot button issues arent really hot button any more. But Im thinking it would be really cool to rewrite this test using people like Obama, Palin and other contemporary people, the mere mention of whom causes most peoples brains to drip out their ears. Heres how this test works. They give you a hot button argument in conversational form, with the conclusion in all caps. Youre supposed to read the conclusion FIRST, and mark whether you agree or disagree with it. THEN you read the ENTIRE argument and determine whether or not its a good argument, having already prejudiced yourself by deciding whether or not you agree with the bottom line. The challenge is in being able to identify faults in an argument that youre sympathetic with, which is something very few people can do or want to do. Heres a couple of those 1932-style hot-button arguments if anyone would like to have a crack at solving them. Heres one from an Easy Test. Valid argument or not?: __________ Every Russian is an idealist at heart. All Bolsheviks are Russians, so we may be sure EVERY BOLSHEVIK IS AN IDEALIST AT HEART. __________ Heres one from a Hard Test. Valid argument or not?: __________ It is claimed that Fascism has brought prosperity to the countries that have adopted it. But there are thousands waiting to emigrate from Germany when they get the chance. We may be sure that no one would wish to emigrate from a prosperous country, so we may conclude that ANY STORIES WE MAY HEAR OF THE PROSPERITY OF A FASCIST COUNTRY ARE MYTHICAL. __________ As I mentioned, this isnt a logic textbook, its informal conversational stuff for the average person. I know how I would solve this last one, using stuff I learned in college about how to turn it into a standard form argument and apply certain tests to it. But it seems like this would be a tough one to just informally solve in your head. Anybody want to try to tell me if these are good arguments or bad ones, and why?
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 18:26:15 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015