Problem :
Take the following scenario: Every time a batter reaches first base, the next
batter hits a double. Every time a batter hits a double, the runner on first
scores. Jon reaches first base. What can you deduce about Jon?
Jon scores.
Problem :
Take the following scenario: When the sun shines, the grass grows. When the
grass grows, it needs to be cut. The sun shines. What can you deduce about the
grass?
It needs to be cut.
Problem :
Take the following scenario: Jim is a barber. Everybody who gets his hair cut
by Jim gets a good haircut. Austin got a good haircut. What can you deduce
about Austin?
Nothing. Just because Austin got a good haircut does not mean that Jim cut his
hair. This is always possible, but nothing can be deduced from the
situation.
Problem :
All dogs are mammals, and all mammals are vertebrates. Shaggy is a dog. What
can be deduced about shaggy?
Shaggy is a mammal and a vertebrate.
Problem :
Why is the following example of deductive reasoning faulty? Given: Khaki pants
are comfortable. Comfortable pants are expensive. Adrian's pants are not khaki
pants. Deduction: Adrian's pants are not expensive.
Simply because Adrian's pants are not khaki does not mean that they are not
comfortable. Also, even if they are not comfortable, this would not necessarily
mean that they are not expensive. There could be comfortable pants that are not
khakis, and expensive pants that are not comfortable.
