Do You Know Basic Logic?
Do You Know Basic Logic?
This brief quiz is given to introductory logic students on the first day of class by Prof. Harry Gensler. Most students fail it.
This brief quiz is given to introductory logic students on the first day of class by Prof. Harry Gensler. Most students fail it.
Some cave dwellers use fire.
All who use fire have intelligence.
Therefore:
If you overslept, you'll be late.
You aren't late.
Therefore:
No one held for murder is given bail.
Smith isn't held for murder.
Therefore:
No court that suppresses evidence is impartial.
Some courts subject to political pressure suppress evidence.
Therefore:
If you overslept, you'll be late.
You didn't oversleep.
Therefore:
Every revolution is a trade disruption.
Some trade disruptions cause financial anxiety.
Therefore:
Anyone who has just lost a lot of blood is likely to faint. No one who is likely to faint is a safe pilot.
Therefore:
If there's knowledge, then either some things are known without proof or we can prove every premise by previous arguments infinitely. We can't prove every premise by previous arguments infinitely. There's knowledge. Therefore:
No person desiring to help others is reluctant to make sacrifices.
Some masochists aren't reluctant to make sacrifices.
Therefore:
Only language users employ generalizations.
Not a single animal uses language.
At least some animals reason.
Therefore: