PHI 2101: Critical Thinking

Review for Test 3 (Final)

Use this link to go to the final exam practice review test.

I. Statement translations and immediate inferences in Sentence Logic

a. Symbolizations – using conjunction, disjunction, negation, implication, equivalence

i. Use quiz 7 for information/examples

b. Rules of equivalence

i. DeMorgan’s Theorems

ii. Material Implication

iii. Contraposition – note relationship to TL

iv. Commutation – from basic math

v. Association – from basic math

vi. Material Equivalence – note relationship to necessary and suff. conditions

vii. Double Negation – from basic math

c. Basic valid argument forms

i. Modus Ponens – from a hypothetical statement, you know that if the antecedent is true, the consequent must be true.

ii. Modus Tollens – from a hypothetical statement, you know that if the consequent is false, the antecedent must be false.

iii. Hypothetical Syllogism – from two hypothetical statements having the general form A à B and B à C, A à C follows.

iv. Disjunctive Syllogism – from a disjunction, if one disjunct is false, the other must be true.

d. Invalid forms

i. Affirming the Consequent – occurs when, from a hypothetical statement, the affirmation of the consequent wrongly to any inference about the antecedent.

ii. Denying the Antecedent – occurs when, from a hypothetical statement, the denial of the antecedent leads wrongly to any inference about the consequent.

e. Applying inferences and arguments in Sentence Logic – in – class on 4/17 only.

II. Logical Possibility vs. Empirical Probability – for this and III, see the syllabus website entry for April 1, 2003.

III. Necessary and Sufficient Conditions

IV. Ethical Theories

a. Deontology

i. Principle/Rule

ii. Formulations of the principle/rule

iii. General considerations about this theory

b. Teleology

i. Virtue Theory

1. No principle or specific rule, except one possibility:

2. The influence of community on character, consequences

ii. Utilitarianism

1. Principle/Rule

2. What the principle means

3. General considerations about this theory

c. Making Moral Judgments

i. Examples to consider

1. Abortion

2. Capital Punishment

3. War/Aggression

4. Civil Rights

5. Women’s Rights

V. Concepts

a. Examples: Patriotism, “American,” Religion, Responsibility

b. Using Mind Maps/Mind Manager Software

i. Clarifying concepts with “maps”

VI. Perception

a. The Allegory of the Cave – What is the meaning of Plato’s allegory?

b. Perceptions and Stereotypes – How to avoid stereotyping