Argument Evaluation Flashcards
7 cards from real LNAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Argument Evaluation flashcards as text
A law professor argues: 'Strict liability is justified for product defects because it incentivizes manufacturers to prioritize safety.' Which assumption underlies this argument?
Answer: The threat of liability actually influences manufacturer behaviour
The incentive argument only works if liability threats genuinely alter corporate decision-making.
Which of the following is an example of a 'slippery slope' argument?
Answer: If we allow same-sex marriage, next people will demand the right to marry animals
A slippery slope claims an initial step inevitably leads to extreme consequences without justifying the chain of causation.
When evaluating an argument, 'relevance' refers to:
Answer: Whether the premises actually bear on the truth of the conclusion
A relevant premise is one that genuinely increases or decreases the probability of the conclusion.
An opponent responds to a policy proposal by arguing against an extreme version of it that was never proposed. This is a:
Answer: Straw man
A straw man misrepresents an opponent's position to make it easier to attack.
Which of the following most effectively identifies a flaw in this argument: 'Ancient Romans used gladiatorial combat to entertain the public, so modern entertainment violence must be acceptable'?
Answer: Historical practice does not establish moral acceptability; this is an appeal to tradition
Deriving moral acceptability from historical precedent commits the appeal-to-tradition fallacy.
An argument's conclusion states: 'Governments should ban sugary drinks.' Which of the following premises would make this argument deductively valid if added?
Answer: Governments should ban all products that contribute to preventable disease, and sugary drinks contribute to preventable disease
This premise, combined with the factual claim about sugary drinks, logically entails the conclusion via modus ponens.
Which of the following best describes 'argument by analogy'?
Answer: Using a comparison between cases to support a conclusion about the target case
Argument by analogy draws on relevant similarities between cases to support an inference about the case under examination.