Assertion and reason

Exercise and reference answers

Questions

1. Reason

   The conversion would distribute a term that the original left undistributed.

   Verdict

   Both are true; the reason explains the assertion.

   Assertion

   'Some men are not cooks' does not give 'Some cooks are not men'.

2. Reason

   A universal negative distributes both of its terms.

   Verdict

   Both are true; the reason explains the assertion.

   Assertion

   'No S is P' may be reversed freely.

3. Reason

   Induction generalises beyond the cases actually observed.

   Verdict

   Both are true; the reason explains the assertion.

   Assertion

   An inductive conclusion can be false though the evidence is true.

4. Reason

   A universal affirmative distributes its subject.

   Verdict

   The assertion is false and the reason is true.

   Assertion

   'All S is P' may be reversed to 'All P is S'.

Explanation