PHIL110 Critical Thinking – SPS CUNY Unit 9 Discussion Assignment Anything Wrong with this Argument? Step 1. Read an article that appeared in The Philosophers' Magazine, entitled "The Drug Laws Don't...

Attaches file Unit 9


PHIL110 Critical Thinking – SPS CUNY Unit 9 Discussion Assignment Anything Wrong with this Argument? Step 1. Read an article that appeared in The Philosophers' Magazine, entitled "The Drug Laws Don't Work,” by Michael Huemer (attached as a separate PDF in the Unit 9 Learning Unit). The article contains some ingenious inductive argumentative strategies, including reasoning by analogy, causal argument, and enumerative induction. With minor modifications, a few of Huemer's arguments could be reconstructed as statistical syllogisms. However, the article also comes dangerously close to committing some fallacies, such as weak analogy, false cause, hasty generalization, and slippery slope. Step 2. Once you've read the article, find an instance of where the argument comes close to committing a fallacy (or outright commits it). Then identify the inductive inference pattern that the fallacy misappropriates, such as inductive generalization, statistical syllogism, analogy, or causal argument. Step 3. On the Discussion Forum, respond to the following prompts: For the fallacy: • Name the fallacy that you were able to identify • Define the fallacy - based on the lectures and reading • Explain why you think it's committed. For the inductive inference pattern: • Identify the type of inductive inference that the argument misuses • Reconstruct its premise(s) and conclusion Regarding your personal opinion: • Do you think that drugs should be legalized, or perhaps that only certain drugs should be legalized? What are your reasons? Step 4. Read and respond to two other students’ posts with substantial replies that follow these commenting points: PHIL110 Critical Thinking – SPS CUNY • Do you think their reconstruction of the fallacy is well done? Does their explanation make sense? If not, what additional comments can you offer to clarify it? • Do you agree with the reasons they offer regarding drug legalization? Which of their reasons do you agree/disagree with and why? • Search the internet for a recent commentary (news article published within the last 3 years) about drug laws, legalization, punishments etc - and offer this article as a gift to your fellow student. Link to the article, then explain why you chose this article and how it relates to their position (it might be supporting their view or contradicting it). • NOTE: you can "gift" the same article to other students, as long as you specifically connect the article to their position on drug laws. Recommendations for Success and Grading Criteria: • Respond to the assignment with clear and detailed answers. • Follow all assignment prompts and answer all prompt questions. • Incorporate relevant examples and evidence to support your claims. • Compose your response in clear and grammatically correct English and post it on time. • Respond to other students with substantive comments and follow-up questions. • Acknowledge all students who comment on your post.