Question

Inductive Reasoning Examples

For each of the following enumerative inductions, (1) identify the target group, sample, and relevant property; (2) indicate whether the argument is strong or weak; and (3) if it’s weak, say whether the problem is a sample that’s too small, not representative, or both. Assume that the information in the premises of each argument is true.

2. Most people are fed up with celebrities who get on their soapbox and air their political opinions. When people on the street have been asked by TV reporters how they feel about this issue, they almost always say that they wish celebrities would keep their opinions to themselves.

Target group:

Sample:

Relevant property:

This argument is              strong                  weak

If weak, it’s weak because:

3. Doctors used to think that anti-arrhythmic drugs were the cure for irregular heartbeats. They over-prescribed these drugs and fifty thousand patients died. Doctors used to believe that the cure for ulcers was a bland diet, but that turned out to be wrong too. Every new treatment we see these days sounds great, but history tells us that they will all turn out to be worthless.

Target group:

Sample:

Relevant property:

This argument is              strong                  weak

If weak, it’s weak because:

4. I’ve asked at least a dozen first-year students at this university whether the U.S. should go to war with “terrorist” countries, and they all have said no. So, most of the students at this university are against such a militant policy.

Target group:

Sample:

Relevant property:

This argument is              strong                  weak

If weak, it’s weak because:

5. A random, nationwide poll of several thousand-gun owners shows that 80% of them are opposed to gun-control laws. Thus, most adults oppose gun-control laws.

Target group:

Sample:

Relevant property:

This argument is              strong                  weak

If weak, it’s weak because:

6. In every winter for the past twenty years Buffalo has received several feet of snow. Therefore, Buffalo is likely to get several feet of snow in the next fifty winters.

Target group:

Sample:

Relevant property:

This argument is              strong                  weak

If weak, it’s weak because:

Answer 1

Most people are fed up with celebrities who get on their soapbox and air their political opinions. When people on the street have been asked by TV reporters how they feel about this issue, they almost always say that they wish celebrities would keep their opinions to themselves.

Target group: Celebrities

Sample: Street people

Relevant property:soapbox airing polotical opinions

This argument is weak because: celebrities are also inclusive of people who have right to express their opinions.

3. Doctors used to think that anti-arrhythmic drugs were the cure for irregular heartbeats. They over-prescribed these drugs and fifty thousand patients died. Doctors used to believe that the cure for ulcers was a bland diet, but that turned out to be wrong too. Every new treatment we see these days sounds great, but history tells us that they will all turn out to be worthless.

Target group: Doctors

Sample:

Relevant property:anti-arrhythmic drugs

This argument is weak

it’s weak because: The drugs should by clinically tested before providing the same to the patients , there is no such claim as "all treatments are at last going to be worthless". this does not justify the death of patients.

4. I’ve asked at least a dozen first-year students at this university whether the U.S. should go to war with “terrorist” countries, and they all have said no. So, most of the students at this university are against such a militant policy.

Target group: terrorist countries

Sample: first-year students

Relevant property: whether the U.S. should go to war with “terrorist” countries,

This argument is          strong

5. A random, nationwide poll of several thousand-gun owners shows that 80% of them are opposed to gun-control laws. Thus, most adults oppose gun-control laws.

Target group:

Sample:

Relevant property:

This argument is              strong                  weak

If weak, it’s weak because:

6. In every winter for the past twenty years Buffalo has received several feet of snow. Therefore, Buffalo is likely to get several feet of snow in the next fifty winters.

Target group: Buffalo

Sample:

Relevant property:feet of snow in the next fifty winters.

This argument i strong