Mastering Philosophical Reasoning and Argumentation

According to Aristotle, what is the distinguishing characteristic of humans?

• Creativity

• Rationality

• Physical strength

• Emotional capacity

What is the spirited part of the soul responsible for, according to Plato?

• Seeking truth and logic

• Physical desires and temptations

• Creative thinking

• Emotional responses and actions

In Plato's tripartite soul, which part is swayed by facts and arguments?

• Appetitive

• Spirited

• Emotional

• Rational

What does Bertrand Russell's barber paradox illustrate?

• The role of creativity in philosophy

• The concept of logical impossibilities

• The value of physical desires

• The importance of emotional reasoning

In the barber paradox, what is the main logical issue?

• The barber is the only man in the town

• The barber cannot shave himself without breaking the rules

• The barber does not follow any rules

• The barber shaves all men in the town

What is a key feature of a deductive argument?

• It is based on physical evidence

• It starts with specific premises and leads to a general conclusion

• If the premises are true, the conclusion must be true

• It relies on emotional appeals

Which of the following is an example of a valid deductive argument?

• All humans are mortal. Socrates is a human. Therefore, Socrates was Plato’s teacher.

• All cats are mammals. I’m a mammal. Therefore, I’m a cat.

• All humans have tails. My brother John is a human. Therefore, John Green has a tail.

• All humans are mortal. Socrates is a human. Therefore, Socrates is mortal.

What does it mean for an argument to be valid?

• The argument is emotionally persuasive

• If the premises are true, the conclusion cannot be false

• The conclusion is true

• The premises are true

Why is deduction prized by philosophers?

• It leads to startlingly new information

• It provides real certainty

• It relies on emotional reasoning

• It is based on physical evidence

What will be covered in future lessons according to the conclusion?

• The importance of emotional reasoning

• The value of creativity in philosophy

• The role of physical desires

• Other species of arguments