Heintz 1

Karl Heintz
24 February 2014
Philosophy 200
Prof. Martin
Writing Assignment One
P1:

Einstein proved that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but only change forms.

P2:

If energy only changes forms, then death causes the energy in our body to change form.

P3:

If death causes the energy in our body to change form, then we can detect that energy.

P4:

If energy only changes form, then we can detect that energy.

P5:

If we can detect that energy, then we can detect the presence of ghosts.

C:

We can detect the presence of ghosts.

While Benjamin Radford, the author of the critique, agrees that we can detect energy

since it can only change forms, he disagrees with ghost hunters premise that we can detect
energy in the form of the presence of ghosts. He argues that the electrical energy in our body is
conserved in other material processes, such as heat and light in the process of cremation. Since
these other processes can account for Einsteins law, the argument of the ghost-hunters is
fallacious.
Radford does an excellent job at pointing out that those who make this argument for the
existence of ghosts is logically fallacious. He points out that they cannot jump from saying that
energy can be detected to that ghosts can be detected vis--vis electric fields. However,
Radfords reply seems to contain the same error as the ghost hunters, that being we know
whether or not ghosts are detectable vis--vis electric fields. A better response would insist that
neither conclusion can be proven solely from the laws of physics.

Heintz 2

P1:

King Tut was depicted in artwork with highly feminine features, indicating that he
suffered from gynecomastia as well as temporal lobe epilepsy.

P2:

King Tut is also depicted in artwork with a walking stick, indicating that he had problems
walking.

P3:

Many rulers during the period in history during which King Tut ruled died early indicates
that these diseases were passed through family lines.

P4:

Body scans indicate that King Tuts bone fractures were very likely due to epileptic
attacks.

P5:

It is now known that Akhenatens series of visions could be due to a case of temporal
lobe epilepsy.

C:

King Tut probably died to temporal lobe epilepsy.

The above argument appears to be a strong one. All four premises lend credibility to the

idea that King Tuts death was due to temporal lobe epilepsy. For example, the premises
concerning artwork from the time of King Tuts reign indicates that, since these features were
only associated with temporal lobe epilepsy at the time, King Tut was probably affected by said
disease. The conclusion is given stronger support from the other premises concerning genetic
inheritance, Akhenatens visions, and body scans of the corpses from King Tuts family. This
does not, however, provide complete assurance that King Tuts death was due to temporal lobe
epilepsy.
The argument appears to be cogent, as well as strong. Since the overall structure of the
argument is strong, and all of the premises in the argument are true, the argument may be
considered cogent.