Logical Reasoning And Rick Santorum
Rick Santorum sure has made some controversial remarks lately. But are they logically sound? Regardless of your political leaning, it pays to know how to evaluate the pieces and soundness of an argument. For this week’s post, I’ve plucked a few Santorum gems to help you review logical reasoning strategy. Can you identify the question types, below? Better yet, can you answer them? Answers after the jump!
1. Santorum: In every society, the definition of marriage has not ever, to my knowledge, included homosexuality. That’s not to pick on homosexuality. It’s not, you know, man on child, man on dog, or whatever the case may be.
Which of the following can be inferred based on the statements above?
(A) No society’s definition of marriage has ever included homosexuality.
(B) Society should not define marriage in a way that includes homosexuality.
(C) Homosexuality is wrong.
(D) Homosexuality is not man on dog.
(E) The definition of marriage varies from society to society.
2. Santorum: The idea that the Crusades and the fight of Christendom against Islam are somehow an aggression on our part is absolutely anti-historical. What I’m talking about is onward American soldiers. What we’re talking about are core American values.
Which of the following is an assumption made in the argument?
(A) If something is about core American values, it is not anti-historical.
(B) The principles underlying the Crusades were antithetical to core American values.
(C) The Crusades and the fight of Christendom against Islam are motivated by the same factors.
(D) That any fight of Christendom’s against Islam is not an aggression.
(E) If a fight is about core American values, it is anti-historical to call it an aggression.
3. Santorum: Many of the Christian faith have said, well, that’s okay, contraception is okay. It’s not okay. It’s a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be.
What is the role of the phrase, “It’s a license to do things in a sexual realm” in the argument?
(A) It is offered as an example for the conclusion that some behaviors are counter to how things are supposed to be.
(B) It is a premise in support of the conclusion that contraception is not okay.
(C) It is the main conclusion.
(D) It is an opposing point.
(E) It is an intermediate conclusion supporting the main conclusion that contraception should be illegal.
Answers: 1. Inference (D), 2. Assumption (E), 3. Identify the Function (B)