Critical Thinking & Argument Evaluation Flashcards

A statement that cannot be tested or falsified by any possible evidence is best described as:

Answer: A non-falsifiable claim

Non-falsifiable claims cannot be tested empirically, which means they fall outside the scope of scientific reasoning.

Which of the following best illustrates the fallacy of equivocation?

Answer: 'All banks have deposits; a river has banks; therefore a river has deposits'

Equivocation shifts the meaning of a word ('bank') mid-argument, creating a misleading but technically structured conclusion.

When evaluating a source for an argument, which criterion is LEAST relevant to its credibility?

Answer: Whether the source's writing style is formal and sophisticated

Writing style does not determine accuracy or credibility; credentials, conflicts of interest, and verifiability matter far more.

Two premises: 'All mammals are warm-blooded' and 'Dolphins are mammals.' What conclusion is logically necessary?

Answer: Dolphins are warm-blooded

If all mammals are warm-blooded and dolphins are mammals, it necessarily follows that dolphins are warm-blooded.

A researcher argues: 'This new drug must be safe because no harmful side effects have been reported.' What flaw is present?

Answer: Absence of reported evidence is treated as evidence of absence

The absence of reports does not prove no harm exists; side effects may be unreported, delayed, or not yet studied.

Which scenario demonstrates a legitimate appeal to authority?

Answer: Citing a cardiologist's dietary recommendations to support a health claim

An appeal to authority is legitimate when the authority has genuine expertise in the specific domain being discussed.

Which of the following is the most accurate description of a 'premise indicator' word?

Answer: A word signaling that a reason or evidence is being given, such as 'because' or 'since'

Premise indicators like 'because,' 'since,' and 'given that' signal that the following statement is a reason supporting a conclusion.