Which mistake in deductive reasoning does the mouse's cartoon claim 'All cats have four legs, I have four legs, therefore I am a cat' illustrate?
ARefusing to gather any specific facts before drawing a conclusion
BSwitching arbitrarily from inductive reasoning to deductive reasoning midway
CApplying a valid analogy A is to B as C is to D in the wrong direction
DTreating a possibly false general assumption as a basis for specific conclusions
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. Treating a possibly false general assumption as a basis for specific conclusions
1. Fig. 7.3 shows a mouse drawing a conclusion that it is a cat.
2. The mouse uses a deductive argument from 'all cats have four legs'.
3. The chapter explicitly warns that deductive reasoning requires the basic assumption to be true.
4. Many other animals have four legs, so 'four legs implies cat' is false.
5. Hence the cartoon illustrates assuming a false general premise can be used to deduce particulars.
_Source: NCERT Class 11 Psychology Ch 7 "Thinking", p. 115, Deductive and Inductive Reasoning_
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