PLS2601 – Critical Reasoning

Semester 2 of the Year 2022

ASSIGNMENT 2

QUESTION 1: SHORT QUESTIONS:

Instructions for Question 1:

Write short answers for each question. The number alongside each question is the total
mark for the question.

1.1 What is the difference between an opinion and an informed opinion? (2 marks)

1.2 For us to be critical thinkers, we need to do ‘critical self-reflection.’ What does this
mean?
(3 marks)
1.3 Identify the type of writing which is in use in the following passages:
(Note: Write only one type of writing)
1.3.1 On September 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al
Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the
United States. Two of the planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade
Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, just
outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville,
Pennsylvania. Almost 3,000 people were killed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks,
which triggered major U.S. initiatives to combat terrorism and defined the presidency
of George W. Bush. (2 marks)

1.3.2 My most valuable possession is an old, slightly warped blond guitar―the first
instrument I taught myself how to play. It's nothing fancy, just a Madeira folk guitar,
all scuffed and scratched and fingerprinted. At the top is a bramble of copper-wound
strings, each one hooked through the eye of a silver tuning key. The strings are
stretched down a long, slim neck, its frets tarnished, the wood worn by years of

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 fingers pressing chords and picking notes. The body of the Madeira is shaped like an
enormous yellow pear, one that was slightly damaged in shipping. The blond wood
has been chipped and gouged to gray, particularly where the pick guard fell off years
ago. No, it's not a beautiful instrument, but it still lets me make music, and for that I
will always treasure it." (2 marks)

1.3.3 As online learning becomes more common and more and more resources are
converted to digital form, some people have suggested that public libraries should be
shut down and, in their place, everyone should be given an iPad with an e-reader
subscription. Proponents of this idea state that it will save local cities and towns
money because libraries are expensive to maintain. They also believe it will
encourage more people to read because they won’t have to travel to a library to get
a book; they can simply click on what they want to read and read it from wherever
they are. They could also access more materials because libraries won’t have to buy
physical copies of books; they can simply rent out as many digital copies as they
need. (2 marks)

1.4 Identify the type of definition used in each of the following passages:
(Note: Write only one type of definition.)
1.4.1 There ought to be a law against Psychiatry. For Psychiatrists are persons who make
a living by charging money for talking with deeply, troubled people. And it is wrong to
exploit deeply, troubled people.
(2 marks)
1.4.2 Religion means among others, Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam,
Sikhism and the like.
(2 marks)
1.5 Each of the following passages contains an ‘informal fallacy.’ Name the fallacy.
(Note: There is only one fallacy in each passage)
1.5.1 “Your Honor, it's true that I killed my parents. I fully admit that I murdered them in
cold blood. But I should get a light sentence. After all, I am an orphan.”
(1 mark)
1.5.2 “Since you became a member of this club, you've raised quite a ruckus about
women's rights. And I know you sincerely believe in feminism. But if you go on

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 holding these extreme views, I will see to it that you are never voted in as an officer
of this club. And, you know, I can make good on that threat. I hope you follow me.
Your feminist views are too radical and need to be toned down.”
(1 mark)
1.5.3 I find it mildly amusing that Mr and Mrs. Billings are advocating School reforms. But I
certainly do not see any reason to take their proposal seriously, both of them were
poor students in high school.
(1 mark)
[18]
QUESTION 2: ARGUMENT EVALUATION:

Instructions for Question 2:

1. Evaluate the following three arguments.
2. In your evaluation, state whether the argument is inductive or deductive, value or empirical,
contains a fallacy or not (stipulate which fallacy if it contains one) and whether it is
valid/invalid or sound/unsound.
3. Present your responses on how you have evaluated the three arguments in the form of a
table. The table is provided below after the three arguments:

Argument 2.1
No sane witnesses incriminate themselves. But some witnesses incriminate themselves,
so, some witnesses are insane.

Argument 2.2
Your reluctance to take this job is beyond comprehension. The pay is good and the hours
are reasonable. Furthermore, the work of a sanitary removal engineer is of great
importance.

Argument 2.3
If Russia uses nuclear weapons to attack Ukraine, then the Third world war will break out.
But Russia has not used nuclear weapons. Hence, the Third world war has not broken out.

Table in which to provide your answers is here below. But you can also draw your own table.

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 Inductive or Value or Fallacy? If ‘Yes,’ Valid / invalid or
Deductive empirical which? sound /
unsound
Argument 2.1

Argument 2.2

Argument 2.3

[1x13=13]

QUESTION 3: ARGUMENT STRUCTURES:

Instructions for Question 3:

Please provide formal argument structure of the following arguments using the statement
symbols provided in brackets. Your arguments should be rewritten in the following format
and be represented in statement symbols provided:
Premise 1
Premise 2
Conclusion
Example 1: If the car starts (S), then the battery is full (F). The car starts. Therefore, the
battery is full. Argument Structure: Premise 1 If S then F
Premise 2 S
Conclusion Therefore, F
Example 2: No rocks (R) are living beings (L). All animals (A) are living beings (L). So, No
animal (A) is a rock (R). Argument Structure: Premise 1 No R are L
Premise 2 All A are L
Conclusion So, No A is R

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3.1
No cowards are (C) bull riders (R); therefore, some fools (F) are not cowards (not C) since
some bull riders (R) are fools (F).
(3 marks)

3.2
If South Africa meddles in the affairs of Russia (M), then Russia will attack South Africa (A).
But it is not the case that Russia attacks South Africa (not A). It follows that South Africa did
not meddle in the affairs of Russia (not M).
(3 marks)

3.3
Not having exceeded our natural resources (not E) is a necessary condition for it being
appropriate to expand our city (A). Unfortunately, we have exceeded our natural resources
(E). Consequently, it is not appropriate to expand our city (not A).
(4 marks)
[10]

QUESTION 4: ARGUMENT MAPS/DIAGRAMS:

Instructions for Question 4:

Create argument maps/argument diagrams of the following arguments.

Example:
All human beings are mortal (a). Penelope is mortal (b). Therefore, Penelope is a human
being (c).
Argument map/diagram
a b

c
Be sure that you number the statements as they are labelled in the questions.

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4.1
Charles is unpleasant to work with (1), since he interrupts people constantly (2). Therefore,
I do not want to serve on a committee with Charles (3).
(4 marks)

4.2
Campaign reform is needed (1) because many contributions to political campaigns are
morally equivalent to bribes (2).
(2
marks)
4.3
In spite of the fact that electrons are physical entities, they cannot be seen (1), for electrons
are too small to deflect photons (i.e. light particles) (2). Hence, electrons are invisible (3).
(3 marks)
[9]

[50 MARKS]