156 ❯ STEP 4. Review the Knowledge You Need to Score High
- Therefore,.
Are there any possible weaknesses in your conclusion?
B. Carefully read the following and briefly explain the possible error in the conclusion. - The 43rd U.S. president is a Yale graduate.
- The 42nd U.S. president was a Yale Law School graduate.
- The 41st U.S. president was a Yale graduate.
- The last seven presidents were college graduates.
- Therefore, the president of the U.S. must have a college degree.
Deduction: If deduction is the process of moving from a general rule to a specific
example (A = B; C = B; Therefore, C = A.), these are the possible problems:
- Not all of the given A falls into the given B category. There are ex ceptions.
- The given category B is incorrect.
- The second statement is not true or is incorrect. Therefore, the conclusion is invalid.
- The truth of the third statement is in question.
Practice:
A. Carefully read the following. Assume that statements 1 and 2 are true. Briefly state the
possible error of the conclusion.
- Some Japanese cars are made in the United States.
- Toyota is a Japanese car.
- Therefore, all Toyotas are made in the United States.
B. Carefully read the following. Assume that statements 1 and 2 are true. Briefly state the
possible error of the conclusion. - No eagles are flamingos.
- All flamingos are birds.
- Therefore, no eagles are birds.
Analogy: If analogy is an argument based on similarities, these are the possible
problems.
- Accepting the totality of the analogy by never questioning that there are differences
between/among the items being compared that could invalidate the argument or
conclusion. - Exaggerating the similarities.
Practice:
A. Briefly identify the analogy in the following:
Both the doctor and the teacher must have special knowledge. People select their own doctors;
therefore, people should be allowed to pick their own teachers.
B. Briefly explain the mistake in the following:
Both 2-year-olds and 10-year-olds have two legs, two eyes, two ears, and two arms. Ten-year-
olds can read and write. Therefore, 2-year-olds should be able to read and write.