Determine whether the following argument is valid or invalid. If valid, name the

Question

Determine whether the following argument is valid or invalid. If valid, name the type or reasoning and if invalid, determine the error in reasoning.

All physicists are eccentric.

All eccentrics are rich.

Therefore, all physicists are rich.

Answer

a. valid; indirect  

b.   invalid; direct  

c.   valid; transitive

d.   valid; direct

Explanation / Answer

You will want to use symbolic logic and convert these to if-> then statements All physicists are eccentric can be translated as "if you are a physicist then you are eccentric" All eccentrics are rich can be translated as "if you are eccentric, then you are rich" Finally all physicists are rich can be translated as "if you are a physicist then you are rich" next we will convert to symbolic logic: let P = You are a physicist let E = you are eccentric Let R = You are rich Now we have the following argument: P ---> E (if P, then E), etc e ---> R there for P--->R. This argument is logically valid using the property of transitivity, or transitive reasoning. Let me know if you need any other help

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