ModuleOneAssignment_PHIL259_2023 (1)

PHIL 259 (F) 2023 Module One Assignment (Module 1 — Chapters 1, 2, 3) Due : Monday, Oct. 2 nd before midnight Hand-in Location : Assignment Dropbox — see link on Timeline General Note: Instructions have been carefully worded to remove ambiguity; if you are not explicitly asked to “justify your answer,” then doing so is neither required nor awarded marks. Section A (5 marks): For each of the following statements, state whether it is true or false. (1 mark each) 1. Whether a subjective claim is true or false is independent of whether anyone thinks it is true or false. F 2."Ahmed has good taste in interior design" is an objective claim. F 3. When an opinion is expressed as a declarative statement, the result is a claim. T 4. A belief cannot be expressed as a declarative statement. F 5. Some opinions are not subjective— their truth or falsity is independent of what people think. T Section B (10 marks): For each of the passages below, identify each speaker who gives an argument for their position and justify your answer. (2 marks each) 1. Magda : Try real estate if you want a good investment: house prices always rise faster than the rate of inflation. M agda gives an argument since she first states real estate is a good investment and then backs it up by mentioning house prices rise faster than inflation. Csipi : Hmmm, I'm not so sure. It's the cost of land that rises faster than the rate of inflation, not the cost of the structures put on it. Since the population isn’t growing and the demand for land is declining, real estate may not be such a great investment anymore. Csipi is making an argument. She makes a claim and provides a reason or premise which is that the population isn’t growing and the demand for land is declining which leads to her claim, real estate not being a good investment. 2. Sally : When you think about it, there’s every reason why women soldiers shouldn’t serve in combat. Sally is not giving an argument. She only makes a claim but there is no evidence, reason, or support. Fred : Well, I don’t think anyone should have to serve in combat. I wouldn’t make anyone serve who doesn’t want to. Fred is making an argument. He makes a claim and then backs it up by saying he wouldn’t make anyone serve in the army if they didn’t want to.

3. Kim : There has been a lot of talk in favour of having civilian police-review boards monitor law enforcement activities. That’s better than letting internal-affairs units try to do that job. I don't th ink This is an argument. Kim does not really present a claim of conclusion. Sok : Agreed. Letting them police themselves is like having the foxes guard the henhouse. This is an argument because sok agrees with kim which is a claim. Claim: Letting internal-affairs units police themselves. And the reason is “like having the foxes guard the henhouse.” 4. Gwyn : The prime minister should reduce government spending before he starts increasing taxes. Taxes just reduce our incomes, and there is plenty of waste in government. For example, a fire department doesn’t need a chief, an assistant chief, and Nancy Salay, Dept. Of Philosophy and School of Computing, Queen’s University1 PHIL 259 (F) 2023 a captain. All it needs is one administrator and however many firefighters. Gwyn is making an argument and she presents a claim which is “prime minister should reduce government spending before he starts increasing taxes.” and supports it with “Taxes just reduce our incomes, and there is plenty of waste in government.” and goes on to give an example which supports her claim. Corky : I disagree. Who takes charge if the administrator is sick or injured? This is not an argument. No claim, no reason, only a question. 5. Aimee : You don’t need to spend a lot of money on a home stereo system. Just buy a good car stereo. They’re just as good as home stereos, and they’re cheaper. All you need is an AC to DC power converter, and you’re in business. This is an argument. The claim and premise is You don’t need to spend a lot of money on a home stereo system. It is concluded and supported by “They’re just as good as home stereos, and they’re cheaper. All you need is an AC to DC power converter, and you’re in business. “ Jean-Paul : Fine, except who says a car stereo is cheaper? Car speakers cost more than home speakers. Also, it isn’t exactly cheap to replace your car system if it gets stolen, as often happens. Phil is making an argument that purchasing a house speaker is preferable than purchasing a car speaker because the latter is more expensive and prone to theft. Section C (10 marks): The quality of a discussion often depends on how closely the parties attend to the same issue. For the passage below, state whether the speakers are clearly disputing the same issue, or whether somebody is missing the point. Justify your reasoning (using no more than one or two sentences). (2 marks each) 1. A : I think the oversight laws for police should be toughened. Right now, it’s difficult for