Question

For each of the following arguments, state whether the indicated changes would make the argument weaker or stronger, and explain why. The strength of the argument might not be affected at all. If so, say why it is not affected. 1. My friend and I have seen many movies together, and we have always agreed on whether they are good or bad. My friend liked the movie trilogy The Lord of the Rings. So I probably will like it as well. Would this argument be weaker or stronger if: a. The only movies that my friend and I have watched together are comedies, and The Lord of the Rings is not a comedy. b. My friend and I have seen very many, very different movies together. c. My friend and I always watched movies together on Wednesdays, but my friend watched The Lord of the Rings on a weekend. d. The conclusion claims that I definitely will like The Lord of the Rings a lot. e. The conclusion claims that I probably won't totally dislike The Lord of the Rings. 2. All the students from Joe's high school with high grades and high board scores did well in college. Joe also had high grades and board scores. So he will probably do well in college. Would this argument be weaker or stronger if: a. The other students worked hard, but Joe's good grades came easily to him, so he never learned to work hard. b. Joe is going to a different college than the students with whom he is being compared. c. Joe plans to major in some easy subject, but the other students were pre-med. d. Joe recently started taking drugs on a regular basis. e. Joe needs to work full-time to pay his college expenses, but the others had their expenses paid by their parents. 3. A new drug cures a serious disease in rats. Rats are similar to humans in many respects. Therefore, the drug will probably cure the same disease in humans. Would this argument be weaker or stronger if: a. The disease affects the liver, and rat livers are very similar to human livers. b. The drug does not cure this disease in cats. c. The drug has to be injected into the rat's tail to be effective (that is, it does not work if it is injected anywhere else in the rat). d. No drug of this general type has been used on humans before. e. The effects of the drug are enhanced by eating cooked foods. 

   For each of the following arguments, state whether the indicated changes would make the argument weaker or stronger, and explain why. The strength of the argument might not be affected at all. If so, say why it is not affected.
1. My friend and I have seen many movies together, and we have always agreed on whether they are good or bad. My friend liked the movie trilogy The Lord of the Rings. So I probably will like it as well.

Would this argument be weaker or stronger if:
a. The only movies that my friend and I have watched together are comedies, and The Lord of the Rings is not a comedy.
b. My friend and I have seen very many, very different movies together.
c. My friend and I always watched movies together on Wednesdays, but my friend watched The Lord of the Rings on a weekend.
d. The conclusion claims that I definitely will like The Lord of the Rings a lot.
e. The conclusion claims that I probably won't totally dislike The Lord of the Rings.
2. All the students from Joe's high school with high grades and high board scores did well in college. Joe also had high grades and board scores. So he will probably do well in college.
Would this argument be weaker or stronger if:
a. The other students worked hard, but Joe's good grades came easily to him, so he never learned to work hard.
b. Joe is going to a different college than the students with whom he is being compared.
c. Joe plans to major in some easy subject, but the other students were pre-med.
d. Joe recently started taking drugs on a regular basis.
e. Joe needs to work full-time to pay his college expenses, but the others had their expenses paid by their parents.
3. A new drug cures a serious disease in rats. Rats are similar to humans in many respects. Therefore, the drug will probably cure the same disease in humans.

Would this argument be weaker or stronger if:
a. The disease affects the liver, and rat livers are very similar to human livers.
b. The drug does not cure this disease in cats.
c. The drug has to be injected into the rat's tail to be effective (that is, it does not work if it is injected anywhere else in the rat).
d. No drug of this general type has been used on humans before.
e. The effects of the drug are enhanced by eating cooked foods.
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Cengage Advantage Books: Understanding Arguments: An Introduction to Informal Logic
Cengage Advantage Books: Understanding Arguments: An Introduction to Informal Logic
Walter… 9th Edition
Chapter 9, Problem 4 ↓

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For each of the following arguments, state whether the indicated changes would make the argument weaker or stronger, and explain why. The strength of the argument might not be affected at all. If so, say why it is not affected. 1. My friend and I have seen many movies together, and we have always agreed on whether they are good or bad. My friend liked the movie trilogy The Lord of the Rings. So I probably will like it as well. Would this argument be weaker or stronger if: a. The only movies that my friend and I have watched together are comedies, and The Lord of the Rings is not a comedy. b. My friend and I have seen very many, very different movies together. c. My friend and I always watched movies together on Wednesdays, but my friend watched The Lord of the Rings on a weekend. d. The conclusion claims that I definitely will like The Lord of the Rings a lot. e. The conclusion claims that I probably won't totally dislike The Lord of the Rings. 2. All the students from Joe's high school with high grades and high board scores did well in college. Joe also had high grades and board scores. So he will probably do well in college. Would this argument be weaker or stronger if: a. The other students worked hard, but Joe's good grades came easily to him, so he never learned to work hard. b. Joe is going to a different college than the students with whom he is being compared. c. Joe plans to major in some easy subject, but the other students were pre-med. d. Joe recently started taking drugs on a regular basis. e. Joe needs to work full-time to pay his college expenses, but the others had their expenses paid by their parents. 3. A new drug cures a serious disease in rats. Rats are similar to humans in many respects. Therefore, the drug will probably cure the same disease in humans. Would this argument be weaker or stronger if: a. The disease affects the liver, and rat livers are very similar to human livers. b. The drug does not cure this disease in cats. c. The drug has to be injected into the rat's tail to be effective (that is, it does not work if it is injected anywhere else in the rat). d. No drug of this general type has been used on humans before. e. The effects of the drug are enhanced by eating cooked foods.
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Key Concepts

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Modality and Strength of Conclusions
Modality in conclusions refers to the degree of certainty with which a conclusion is stated—using terms like 'probably' versus 'definitely'. The choice of modal terms affects an argument's strength because a conclusion expressed with qualification typically acknowledges uncertainty and aligns better with inductive evidence, whereas an absolute conclusion may overstate the support provided by the premises.
Analogical Reasoning
Analogical reasoning is the process of inferring that because two or more entities share certain characteristics, they will share other similar properties as well. In evaluating an argument that extrapolates findings from one group (such as rats) to another (such as humans), the strength of the analogy depends on the degree of similarity in the relevant properties, as well as in any relevant differences between the groups.
Inductive Reasoning
Inductive reasoning involves drawing general conclusions based on specific past observations. In the context of evaluating arguments, it concerns how past experiences or patterns are used to predict future outcomes, and how changes in the context or evidence can either strengthen or weaken the support for a conclusion.
Relevance of Evidence
The relevance of evidence pertains to how directly the information provided in the premises applies to the conclusion. Evaluating whether the characteristics and conditions of the evidence align with those of the case under discussion is crucial; changes in external variables may render otherwise supportive evidence less applicable, thereby weakening the argument.
Similarity and Representativeness
This concept addresses the need for the subjects, cases, or data points being compared to be sufficiently similar in key respects. In arguments that generalize from one instance (or group) to another, the strength of the inference depends on how representative the observed cases are of the subject in question, with discrepancies leading to potential weakening of the argument.
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