Part 1: Choose one of the three topics below. Write an argument with a clear conclusion (thesis) that you have created about this topic. Your conclusion must be a straightforward one-sentence assertio

Unit VIII Sample Homework As we age , we must take into account that our memory will start to weaken. I, for example, am very much aware I do not remember things as well as I used to. When we are young , we take for granted how fast we remember things. As I hear of many cases of Alzh eimer’s, I become concerned I may one day have Alzheimer’s. It is a real possibility for many o f us. Scholarly work shows intellectual activity helps to stave off Alzhei mer’s disease. Thus, I think it i s a good idea to engage in as much intellectual activity as possibl e. My reasoning is as follows: I f I want to have a sharp mind, I should exercise my mind. I do want to have a sharp mind. Therefore, I should exercise my mind. Bu t, how do I do that? I have been reading a lot about chess. Chess masters have very sharp minds. I should thus play chess on an everyday basis . This is what I am concluding for now. It may very well be the case that I will get tired of chess and look for some other intellectual activity , but for now I will stick to chess. It is so easy to play different people nowadays thanks to the internet , and I have always enjoyed playing it. Let us look at my argument in more detail. I seemed to have come to this co nclusion via two premises. Even though there have been a lot of things I have considered, there are only two important pr emises. My first premise is I should exercise my mind , and my second premise is chess masters have sharp minds. Is my argument deductiv e or inductive? Th is is a little tricky. I know it is not deductive because the conclusion does not necessarily follow fr om the premises. It is true I should exercise my mind and chess masters have sharp minds , but it does not necessarily follow that I sho uld play chess to exercise my mind. This is because there are plenty of other things I can do to exercise my mind like read philosophy, read classic novels, or read science. There is, however, an inductive aspect to the argument. After reading a lot about chess masters, I have concluded that chess masters have sharp minds. Their memories are amazing! This conclusion , chess masters have sharp minds , serves as a premise for my w hole argument. But , this has to be inductive because I am sure not all of them have sharp minds. I may encounter a chess master, for example, who does not have a sharp mind. Because there is a chance of such an encounter , the conclusion that chess masters have sharp minds has been arrived at by inductive reasoning. Chance and contingencies are signs of induction. My whole argument also contains a deductive part or deductive component , a sub - argument , “If I want to have a sharp mind, I should exercise my min d. I do want to have a sharp mind. Therefore, I should exercise my mind.” This is deductive because if we assume the assertion s “If I want to have a sharp mind, then I should exercise my mind” and “I do want to have a sharp mind” are both true , it will necessarily follow that I should exercise my mind (the conclusion) is also true . Recall that in a deductive argument the conclusion follows necessarily given that the premises are true. The conclusion “ I should exercise my mind” is not a matter of chance or contingency. My argument assumes playing chess is an exercise , perhaps analogous to how I can exercise my body. It is a hidden assumption because it is not explicitly stated in my argument , yet it is an assumption that is an important part of m y argument as a whole. My conclusion seems to follow based on this assumption. Are there any potenti al fallacies I have avoided? I think I have avoided the false dilemma fallacy by not thinking the whole situation is black and white or an either -or scenari o. In my reasoning , I do not , for example, conclude I either play chess on an everyday basis or I will get Alzheimer’s disease. I have just argued I should play chess bec ause I should exercise my mind. Conclusion: Premises: Inductive Aspects: Deductive Aspects: I should thus play chess on an everyday basis . 1. I should exercise my mind . 2. Chess masters have sharp minds . The premise that chess masters have sharp minds has been arrived at via induction . The con clusion (which is also premise for the whole argument) has a deductive aspect: “if I want to have a sharp mind, I should exercise my mind. I do want to have a sharp mind. Therefore, I should exercise my mind (conclusion) .” Potential Fallacies (Hidden) Assumptions I do not conclude that I either play chess on an everyday basis or I will get Alzheimer’s disease. I have just argued I should play chess bec ause I should exercise my mind. I have avoided false dilemma . I am assuming that playing chess is an exercise.