Phil 1010, Exercise 8 Name _____________________________

In the following passages, fill in the following blanks. In some passages, a part of the argument may not be
provided by the passage. In that case, write “not provided.”

“The tigers in the San Diego Zoo all have stripes. Thus, all tigers probably have stripes.”

(a) Is there an argument? Circle one. Argument No Argument

(b) Standardization

(1) 100% of the tigers in the San Diego Zoo all have stripes

Therefore,

(2) All tigers probably have stripes

(c) Identify Parts

S = Not Stated P = 100%

Sample = Tigers at SD zoo

F = having stripes

Target = All tigers.

(d) True Premises Test

Premise 1:

Empirical, uncontroversial and easily verifiable. Passes

(e) Proper Form Test

(e1) Can the argument be put in the General or Particular standard form? Why or why not?

Yes, general.

(e2) Is the sample representative? Be sure to comment on both (do either commit a fallacy?)
Size: The size is not stated. How many tigers does the SD zoo have? Seems likely that the sample is too
small.

Variety: Variety is also stated but presumably not sufficient unless the SD Zoo specializes in tigers or
something

(f) Global Comment:

The argument passes the TP test but has weak form. It doesn’t clarify size or variety and it seems likely that
neither is sufficient, making it fallacious.
“When it comes to diet and heart disease, doctors—and patients—have been going on hunches. A new study
could be a start in changing all that, heart researchers said. It involved 7,448 people in Spain, half of whom were
randomly assigned to follow a Mediterranean diet. It was ended early after less than five years because those on
the Mediterranean diet had fewer heart attacks, strokes and deaths from heart disease compared with the general
population.” (Kolata 2013, modified)

(a) Is there an argument? Circle one. Argument No Argument

(b) Standardization

(1) 100% of 3724 people on Mediterranean diet had fewer heart attacks, strokes and deaths from heart disease
compared with the general population.

Therefore,

(2) All people who go on the Mediterranean diet will have fewer heart attacks, strokes and deaths from heart
disease compared with the general population.

(c) Identify Parts

S = 3724 P = %100

Sample = People on diet in study

F = Having fewer heart attacks, strokes and deaths from heart disease compared with the general population.

Target = All people who go on the diet.

(d) True Premises Test

Premise 1: CLEAR Passes

(e) Proper Form Test

(e1) Can the argument be put in the General or Particular standard form? Why or why not?

Yes, general.

(e2) Is the sample representative? Be sure to comment on both (do either commit a fallacy?)
Size: The size is good enough to be representative

Variety: The group seems likely to be insufficiently varied since all the participants were in Spain.

(f) Global Comment:

Decent argument but the form is not totally strong because of lack of variety. It could be improved by reproducing
the study elsewhere. As it stands, I’d say it has true premises and decent form but hesitate to say its cogent.