NAME:
Critical Thinking
Supplemental Homework Assignment #1:
Argument Structure: Premises and Conclusions
For each of these arguments, determine the argument's premise(s) and conclusion(s). Use the letter "P"
for premise and "C" for conclusion. Underline premise indicators and double-underline conclusion
indicators.
(1) The investigation of supernatural phenomena lies outside the realm of science. Therefore, science can
neither prove nor disprove the existence of God.
(2) Science can neither prove nor disprove the existence of God because the investigation of supernatural
phenomena lies outside the realm of science.
(3) Since all men are mortal and Jerry Seinfeld is a man, it follows that Jerry Seinfeld is mortal.
(4) We must conclude that Bill Clinton was not a virtuous president solely on the grounds that he was
dishonest with the American people.
(5) The taking of human life is always morally wrong. Hence, capital punishment should be abolished, as
it involves the taking of human life.
(6) The world is full of intricate living organisms suitably adapted to the tasks of survival and
reproduction. This could not have happened by chance. Consequently, all living organisms must be
designed by some Supreme intelligence.
(7) To every existing thing God wills some good. Hence, since to love any thing is nothing else than to
will good to that thing, it is manifest that God loves everything that exists. ~ St. Thomas Aquinas
(8) When individuals voluntarily abandon property, they forfeit any expectation of privacy in it that they
might have had. Therefore, a warrantless search or seizure of abandoned property is not unreasonable
under the Fourth Amendment. ~ Judge Stephanie Kulp Seymour, United States v. Jones
(9) The classroom teacher is crucial to the development and academic success of the average student, and
administrators are simply ancillary to this effort. For this reason, classroom teachers ought to be paid at
least the equivalent of administrators at all levels, including the superintendent.
(10) Jenny will get an "A" in biology. She received an A on the mid-term, has turned in all her
homework, and has not missed a single class.
(11) Articulate and well-educated people are good leaders. Hence, President George Bush is not a good
leader, for he is neither articulate nor well educated.
(12) The war in Iraq was not justified. The reason for this is very simple. There were no weapons of
mass destruction in Iraq.
(13) Television these days is a corrosive influence on young people. Not only do we find no role models
on television but television content lacks all educational value. There are also studies that show that
violence and criminal behavior on television is a contributing factor to violence and criminal behavior
among young people.
(14) If ghosts really existed, then there should be concrete, empirical proof of their existence. But there is
no such proof of their existence. Clearly, ghosts don’t exist.