1.
Choose at least two premises
Premise 1
When you’re playing violent video games, you’re not contributing at all to society any activity that
doesn’t contribute anything to society is a waste of time
Evaluation: False premise, by this standard a great many things would be considered a waste of time,
should we then also call for the government to make them illegal?
Premise 2
These games encourage players to view killing in a positive light
Evaluation: True premise, Video Games do paint killing in a positive light.
2.
Choose at least two inferences
Inference 1
When you’re playing violent video games, you’re not contributing at all to society any activity that
doesn’t contribute anything to society is a waste of time. Therefore, playing violent video games is a
giant waste of time. Since the premise is weak/ debatable the inference is weak.
Inference 2
These games encourage players to view killing in a positive light they directly reward players for
killing others with guns. Since the premise is true and the inference is logically sound the inference is
strong.
3.
Give a verdict on the argument overall
My overall verdict is that this is a weak argument, or it requires further information. Firstly, not it
includes some weak premises, for instance, video games are a waste of time since they are not
productive to society and anything that is not productive to society is a waste of time. By that
standard watching violent television shows is an equal waste of time should we make that illegal as
well? The inference for this premise is also weak due to the reasoning stated above.
The Second false or questionable premise is that the government should try and prevent people
from viewing killing in a positive light because those people are more likely to act aggressively or
violently toward others. Again, I would invoke television as a counterpoint, killing is viewed in an
equally positive light in television and movies, therefore there is more than one explanation for
people acting aggressively or violently toward one another. Since there are other variables that need
to be examined before a verdict can be reached.
