Assess the following as probably true, as probably false, as requiring further documentation before judgment, or as a claim that cannot properly be evaluated. Consider both the nature of the claim and the source."The great preponderance of lottery players are from the lowest third of the population in terms of income levels. It is mainly the poor who are being exploited by state lotteries."-A sociology professor at a state university in the Midwest, in a radio interview
What will be an ideal response?
Requires further documentation. We'd want to know if this claim is backed up by a study. Presumably there is some evidence on which the remark is based rather than just the professor's guesswork. Notice the use of the term "exploited" in the second sentence. This tells us something about the speaker's views on lotteries.
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One key example that Hursthouse uses concerns the question: what's good about the
character trait of a. humility. b. courage. c. honesty. d. generosity. e. pity.
Answer the following statement(s) true (T) or false (F)
1. During the Babylonian Exile, the prophet Ezekiel modifies Yahweh's model of collective punishment. 2.Borrowing from an Egyptian tradition, biblical images of Heaven portray God as the leader of a divine council, surrounded by thousands of heavenly multitudes. 3. Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, God reverses older traditions by consistently siding with the poor and weak against the strong and powerful. 4. Within the figure of Jesus, God is revealed as love 5. At the end of his narrative, the author of Revelation suggests the emergence of a new relationship between God and humanity—based on grace.
"Officer, I admit I was driving 140 mph on this congested highway, but I don't deserve a speeding ticket. There is no speed limit on this highway, and the law requires only that vehicles be driven "at a safe speed," which, for me, is well over 140 mph. Also, I apologize for not pulling over sooner. I was talking on my cell phone and didn't hear your siren." Identify the fallacy that applies to this example.
A. The fallacy of inappropriate appeal to authority B. The fallacy of false alternatives C. The fallacy of inconsistency D. The slippery-slope fallacy E. None of the answers are correct
Exercise: Find an example of an ambiguous claim in a paper you have written for another class.
What will be an ideal response?