Conditionals exercise - Final part of assignment
Instructions: This is the part of the homework you must print out and turn in. This is just like what you have been doing, but you will not be told if you are right or wrong. For each question, there a conditional and a fact; assume each is true. You will finally be given a potential conclusion, starting with "Thus." If both the conditional and the additional fact were true, would the conclusion have to be true? If so, circle YES. If not, circle NO.
1. Conditional: If Mary goes to the dry cleaner, then Bob will eat a hamburger.
Fact: If Bob ate a hamburger, he will get sick.
Conclusion: Thus, if Mary goes to the dry cleaner, then Bob will get sick.
YES, the conclusion must be true if the conditional and fact are true.
NO, the conclusion might be false even if the conditional and fact are true.
2. Conditional: If I ate lunch, I will not order pizza for dinner.
Fact: I did not eat lunch.
Conclusion: Thus, I will order pizza for dinner.
YES, the conclusion must be true if the conditional and fact are true.
NO, the conclusion might be false even if the conditional and fact are true.
3. Conditional: All monkeys are mean.
Fact: George is mean.
Conclusion: Thus, George is a monkey.
YES, the conclusion must be true if the conditional and fact are true.
NO, the conclusion might be false even if the conditional and fact are true.
4. Conditional: Whenever someone is dishonest, they have done something morally wrong.
Fact: Whenever someone is unfaithful, they have done something morally wrong.
Conclusion: Thus, whenever someone is unfaithful, they have been dishonest.
YES, the conclusion must be true if the conditional and fact are true.
NO, the conclusion might be false even if the conditional and fact are true.
5. Conditional: If someone is virtuous, they will never do anything bad.
Fact: If someone never does anything bad, they will live a dull life.
Conclusion: Thus, if someone is virtuous, they will live a dull life.
YES, the conclusion must be true if the conditional and fact are true.
NO, the conclusion might be false even if the conditional and fact are true.
6. Conditional: If you cannot understand something, you cannot possess it. (from Goethe)
Fact: Randolf cannot understand his car.
Conclusion: Thus, Randolf cannot possess his car.
YES, the conclusion must be true if the conditional and fact are true.
NO, the conclusion might be false even if the conditional and fact are true.
7. Conditional: All people who are rational consistently pursue their own interests.
Fact: All egoists consistently pursue their own interests.
Conclusion: Thus, all egoists are rational.
YES, the conclusion must be true if the conditional and fact are true.
NO, the conclusion might be false even if the conditional and fact are true.
8. Conditional: If someone's dream is impossible to achieve, it is because that person fears failure.
Fact: Luke's dreams are possible to achieve.
Conclusion: Thus, Luke does not fear failure.
YES, the conclusion must be true if the conditional and fact are true.
NO, the conclusion might be false even if the conditional and fact are true.
9. Conditional: If something is not something you would be happy to do in the last hour of your life, then you should not do it.
Fact: No one should commit murder.
Conclusion: Committing murder is not something anyone would be happy doing in the last hour of their lives.
YES, the conclusion must be true if the conditional and fact are true.
NO, the conclusion might be false even if the conditional and fact are true.
10. Conditional: All men are mortal.
Fact: Socrates is mortal.
Conclusion: Thus, Socrates is a man.
YES, the conclusion must be true if the conditional and fact are true.
NO, the conclusion might be false even if the conditional and fact are true.