Philosophy Homework!!!

I've got this philosophy homework, and I could use some help on it. For those of you that are familiar with the basics of philosophy, I could use your help.

1st problem: Currently, there is a severe risk of an H1N1 flu epidemic in the US. Thus, all Americans should take precautions against their being infected or their infecting others. Is this inductive argument strong or weak, and if it's strong, is it cogent or uncogent?

2nd problem: Either the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941 or they attacked in 1951. The Japanese did not attack in 1941. Thus, they attacked in 1951. Is the deductive argument valid or invalid, and if valid, is it sound or unsound?

Again, any help would be MUCH appreciated. I've got the other problems down, but these 2 have given me a little trouble.

No homework help threads are allowed. Please do your own homework. :)

I've got this philosophy homework, and I could use some help on it. For those of you that are familiar with the basics of philosophy, I could use your help.

1st problem: Currently, there is a severe risk of an H1N1 flu epidemic in the US. Thus, all Americans should take precautions against their being infected or their infecting others. Is this inductive argument strong or weak, and if it's strong, is it cogent or uncogent?

Strong inductive. I would say it is cogent, but that is very difficult to determine with just that information.

2nd problem: Either the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941 or they attacked in 1951. The Japanese did not attack in 1941. Thus, they attacked in 1951. Is the deductive argument valid or invalid, and if valid, is it sound or unsound?

It is valid if the premises are logical; in this case, yes, it is valid. It is only sound, however, if the premises lead to a conclusion that can possibly be correct. Since this argument cannot be correct (the Japanese attacked in 1941), it is not sound.

Again, any help would be MUCH appreciated. I've got the other problems down, but these 2 have given me a little trouble.LewyDeng2

[QUOTE="LewyDeng2"]

I've got this philosophy homework, and I could use some help on it. For those of you that are familiar with the basics of philosophy, I could use your help.

1st problem: Currently, there is a severe risk of an H1N1 flu epidemic in the US. Thus, all Americans should take precautions against their being infected or their infecting others. Is this inductive argument strong or weak, and if it's strong, is it cogent or uncogent?

Strong inductive. I would say it is cogent, but that is very difficult to determine with just that information.

2nd problem: Either the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941 or they attacked in 1951. The Japanese did not attack in 1941. Thus, they attacked in 1951. Is the deductive argument valid or invalid, and if valid, is it sound or unsound?

It is valid if the premises are logical; in this case, yes, it is valid. It is only sound, however, if the premises lead to a conclusion that can possibly be correct. Since this argument cannot be correct (the Japanese attacked in 1941), it is not sound.

Again, any help would be MUCH appreciated. I've got the other problems down, but these 2 have given me a little trouble.Theokhoth

I was going to provide some help with whatever little help I could give, but then saw this. Jeez, are you a philosophy major or something? ...Or am I just showing how little I know about philosophy?

And to the others: Why is there no homework support? Is that some kind of unwritten rule or something? If so, then what's the reason?

@ LZ71: your rude attitude is completely unnecessary. LewyDeng2

[QUOTE="Theokhoth"]

[QUOTE="LewyDeng2"]

I've got this philosophy homework, and I could use some help on it. For those of you that are familiar with the basics of philosophy, I could use your help.

1st problem: Currently, there is a severe risk of an H1N1 flu epidemic in the US. Thus, all Americans should take precautions against their being infected or their infecting others. Is this inductive argument strong or weak, and if it's strong, is it cogent or uncogent?

Strong inductive. I would say it is cogent, but that is very difficult to determine with just that information.

2nd problem: Either the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941 or they attacked in 1951. The Japanese did not attack in 1941. Thus, they attacked in 1951. Is the deductive argument valid or invalid, and if valid, is it sound or unsound?

It is valid if the premises are logical; in this case, yes, it is valid. It is only sound, however, if the premises lead to a conclusion that can possibly be correct. Since this argument cannot be correct (the Japanese attacked in 1941), it is not sound.

Again, any help would be MUCH appreciated. I've got the other problems down, but these 2 have given me a little trouble.J_Knolling

I was going to provide some help with whatever little help I could give, but then saw this. Jeez, are you a philosophy major or something? ...Or am I just showing how little I know about philosophy?

And to the others: Why is there no homework support? Is that some kind of unwritten rule or something? If so, then what's the reason?

I have an AA degree in philosophy that will very soon turn into a bachelor's provided my school doesn't **** things up. I've never seen anything like the cogent question, though. It's just so short, it's extremely hard to determine.

[QUOTE="avatar_genius"]Just look up the definitions of "weak," "strong," "cogent," "uncogent," "valid," "invalid," "sound," "unsound" and figure it out for yourself. I assume you have a textbook, right?LewyDeng2

And trusting some random person on the internet can?

I have an AA degree in philosophy that will very soon turn into a bachelor's provided my school doesn't **** things up. I've never seen anything like the cogent question, though. It's just so short, it's extremely hard to determine.

Theokhoth

Ahh, I knew it! Well, at least I don't feel so stupid now.

[QUOTE="LewyDeng2"][QUOTE="avatar_genius"]Just look up the definitions of "weak," "strong," "cogent," "uncogent," "valid," "invalid," "sound," "unsound" and figure it out for yourself. I assume you have a textbook, right?avatar_genius

And trusting some random person on the internet can?

could any1 tell me the formal cause of a football? my guess would be "footballness of leather" but I'm unsure