Match each logical argument scenario below with the correct description of its reasoning structure or logical flaw.
- To be a professional chef, one must have excellent knife skills. David has excellent knife skills, so he will undoubtedly become a professional chef.Treats a condition that is required for a certain status as though it were enough to guarantee that status.
- If a company offers a high salary, it will attract top talent. TechCorp does not offer a high salary, so it will not attract top talent.Assumes that the absence of a condition that ensures an outcome will necessarily result in the absence of that outcome.
- A building can pass inspection only if its wiring is up to code. The old library's wiring is not up to code, so it will not pass inspection.Correctly deduces that the absence of a required condition guarantees the absence of the associated outcome.
- Every student who completes the extra credit will pass the class. Emma completed the extra credit, so she will pass the class.Correctly concludes that if a condition is sufficient to produce an outcome, the presence of that condition ensures the outcome.
Answer
The professional chef scenario matches 'Treats a condition that is required...'; the company salary scenario matches 'Assumes that the absence of a condition...'; the building inspection scenario matches 'Correctly deduces that the absence...'; and the extra credit scenario matches 'Correctly concludes that if a condition is sufficient...'.
Each scenario maps to its precise logical structure. The first two scenarios illustrate the classic conditional flaws of Illegal Reversal and Illegal Negation, respectively, while the latter two scenarios successfully execute valid conditional inferences without flaw.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Distinguishing valid conditional inferences from necessary vs. sufficient condition flaws (Illegal Reversal and Illegal Negation).