PHI103 Week 4 – Quiz
Question 1
1 / 1 pts
Inference to the best explanation is often expressed in which invalid argumentative form?
Denying the antecedent
Correct!
Affirming the consequent
Denying the consequent
Affirming the antecedent
Question 2
1 / 1 pts
The following is one of the ways (listed in our text) to assess the quality of an inference to the best explanation:
Is the information published elsewhere?
Correct!
Does it provide the simplest explanation of the observed phenomena?
Is it likely to promote beneficial consequences?
Is it novel and innovative?
Question 3
1 / 1 pts
Suppose that the consequence that you predict from your hypothesis do not come true, under which circumstances can we reject the hypothesis?
If there is a probable connection between the hypothesis and its consequences
If there is no logical connection between the hypothesis and its consequences
If there is a deductively certain connection between the hypothesis and its consequences
You should never reject the hypothesis
Question 4
0 / 1 pts
This form of inductive argument moves from the specific to the general __________.
inductive generalization
statistical syllogism
argument from analogy
deductive argument
The answer can be found in Section 6.1, “Contrasting Deduction and Induction,” of With Good Reason: A Guide to Critical Thinking.
Question 5
1 / 1 pts
Which of these is a limitation of inferences to the best explanation?
Most of reality cannot be explained
It will never be as convincing as deductive inference
It depends upon our coming up with the right explanation as one of the candidates
It generally leads us away from scientific explanations
Question 6
1 / 1 pts
Which of the following is necessary in order for an explanation to be adequate?
It does not agree with other human knowledge
It provides an overly complex solution
It is noncircular
It is contradicted by other instances
Question 7
1 / 1 pts
The following is one of the ways (listed in our text) to assess the quality of an inference to the best explanation:
Is it something that could be doubted?
Are the results likely to get positive recognition?
Is it likely to be praised by the scientific community?
Is it testable?
Question 8
1 / 1 pts
Which one of the following is most likely not an inference to the best explanation?
“The sky is getting bright. It must be morning.”
“All dogs are mammals. So, Fido is a mammal.”
“It smells good; someone must be baking.”
“John is happy; he must have aced his test today.”
Question 9
1 / 1 pts
Which of these is one of the steps of the hypothetico-deductive method?
Interview other scholars first
Avoid things that would refute your theory
Determine whether the results are likely to be profitable
Test to find out if a predicted consequence occurs
Question 10
1 / 1 pts
Which of the following is not one of the questions given for assessing a possible explanation?
Does it explain all relevant observations?
Does it follow validly from the premises?
Is it non-circular?
It is testable?
Question 11
1 / 1 pts
The concept of availability, when applied to inductive arguments (in Chapter 6) means what?
That sometimes the best evidence available lends itself more to inductive reasoning
The conclusions of inductive arguments are more available for scrutiny
Deductive arguments are less available because they are harder to formulate
Sometimes there is no evidence available to support a conclusion
Question 12
1 / 1 pts
The following is one of the ways (listed in our text) to assess the quality of an inference to the best explanation:
Does it agree well with the rest of human knowledge?
Does the conclusion follow validly from the premises?
Does it feel right?
Is it novel and innovative?
Question 13
1 / 1 pts
Using the rules for assessing inferences to the best explanation (in Chapter 6), which of the following is likely the best inference to the best explanation for the following observation:
“The tree that was in my front yard is gone.”
It changed into a blade of grass
Somebody cut it down
Aliens sucked it up into their space craft
It is gone because it disappeared
Question 14
1 / 1 pts
Which of the following is true of inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning?
Deductive is always better than inductive
An inductive argument is generally fallacious
Deductive and inductive inference can be combined
Inductive reasoning is generally superior to deductive
Question 15
1 / 1 pts
Good explanations often can explain other phenomena. The name for this is __________.
explanatory power
fecundity
testability
falsifiability
Question 16
1 / 1 pts
Which of the following is true about combining deductive and inductive reasoning?
One should never try to combine the two, but should make the best choice of which one to use.
If an argument has inductive and deductive elements, then the overall argument is generally deductive.
The argument fails to adequately support its conclusion.
If an argument has inductive and deductive elements, then the overall argument is generally inductive.
Question 17
1 / 1 pts
Using the rules for assessing inferences to the best explanation (in Chapter 6), which of the following is likely the best inference to the best explanation for the following observation:
“That magician apparently made a card that was in the deck appear in my back pocket.”
He is a sorcerer who can transport matter
He is using a clever trick to fool people
All reality is in our minds, and he can manipulate it
I have lost my mind
Question 18
1 / 1 pts
Which of the following is true of the distinction between induction and deduction?
Inductive reasoning means going from the specific to the general; while deductive reasoning is the reverse.
Inductive reasoning means going from the general to the specific, while deductive reasoning is the reverse.
Some forms of inductive reasoning go from the specific to the general, while others go from the general to the specific.
Deductive reasoning never has a general conclusion.
Question 19
1 / 1 pts
Which of the following is true about inductive reasoning versus deductive reasoning?
Deductive reasoning is always preferable.
Inductive reasoning is always preferable.
Inductive reasoning is often preferable.
One should only use inductive reasoning if one can’t find a valid argument.
Question 20
1 / 1 pts
The concept of persuasiveness, when applied to inductive arguments (in Chapter 6) means what?
Sometimes deductively valid arguments are less persuasive than inductive arguments because one is not likely to accept their strong premises unless one already accepts their conclusions
Deductive arguments are always more persuasive because their reasoning, by definition, is stronger
Inductive reasoning is only persuasive to people who fail to notice that the conclusion does not follow from the premises
Deductive and inductive arguments are equally persuasive
Quiz Score: 20 out of 20
PHI103 Week 4 – Quiz Answer
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