Question

Each of the following passages contains an argument. Identify or list the premises, con­ clusions, and indicator words in each passage.

1) Government statistics show that it is safer to fly than to drive. Since government statistics are generally reliable, it follows that if you are traveling across the coun­ try this summer, your chance of surviving the trip will be higher if you fly than if you drive.

2) Simple ethical egoism is a false ethical theory. For if it were true,it would followt hat it is morally acceptable for someone to make a living robbing little old ladies who just cashed their meager Social Security checks (if that is what the robber wants to do at the moment). But upon careful reflection on all the facts, including the inter­ ests of everyone involved, robbing little old ladies clearly seems morally wrong.

3)All differences in income and wealth between people are due solely to luck. Since nobody deserves something if they have it due solely to luck, it follows that all dif­ ferences in income and wealth are undeserved.

Answer 1

Each of the following passages contains an argument. Identify or list the premises, conclusions, and indicator words in each passage.

1.Government statistics show that it is safer to fly than to drive. Since government statistics are generally reliable, it follows that if you are traveling across the coun­ try this summer, your chance of surviving the trip will be higher if you fly than if you drive.

Premise:

Government statistics show that it is safer to fly than to drive. Since government statistics are generally reliable

Conclusion

it follows that if you are traveling across the coun­ try this summer, your chance of surviving the trip will be higher if you fly than if you drive.

Indicator words:

Since

It follows that

2.Simple ethical egoism is a false ethical theory. For if it were true, it would follow that it is morally acceptable for someone to make a living robbing little old ladies who just cashed their meager Social Security checks (if that is what the robber wants to do at the moment). But upon careful reflection on all the facts, including the interests of everyone involved, robbing little old ladies clearly seems morally wrong.

Premise:

Simple ethical egoism is a false ethical theory. For if it were true, it would follow that it is morally acceptable for someone to make a living robbing little old ladies who just cashed their meager Social Security checks (if that is what the robber wants to do at the moment).                       

Conclusion:                              

But upon careful reflection on all the facts, including the interests of everyone involved, robbing little old ladies clearly seems morally wrong.

Indicator words:

For if it were

But upon

3.All differences in income and wealth between people are due solely to luck. Since nobody deserves something if they have it due solely to luck, it follows that all dif­ differences in income and wealth are undeserved.

Premise:                     

All differences in income and wealth between people are due solely to luck. Since nobody deserves something if they have it due solely to luck

Conclusion:

it follows that all dif­ differences in income and wealth are undeserved.

Indicator words:

Since

It follows that