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Modus Ponens as Reasoning for Believing Statements are False

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The following T/F statements refer to the notes on Belief Formation

1. Modus ponens reasoning is the process of forming the belief that a statement is false.

True?

2. "If the moon is made of green cheese then pigs can fly. The moon is made of green cheese. Therefore, pigs can fly" is a well-structured argument.

3. By noting that moon rocks are made of rock and not green cheese, one would be refuting the above argument's claim of sufficiency.

4. Modus tollens reasoning is the process of forming the belief that a statement is true.

5. "If the moon is made of green cheese then pigs can fly. Pigs cannot fly. Therefore, the moon is not made of green cheese" is a well-structured argument.

6. By producing a flying pig, one would be refuting the above argument's claim that its necessary evidence is, in fact, false.

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The following posting discusses Modus Ponens reasons for believing statements are false.

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Answers and explanations are inserted below in boldface type.

The following T/F statements refer to the notes on Belief Formation

1. Modus ponens reasoning is the process of forming the belief that a statement is false.

This is FALSE. Modus ponens reasoning looks like this:

If A is true, then B is true.
A is true.
Therefore B is true.

So modus ponens reasoning is the process of forming the belief that a statement is true.

2. "If the moon is made of green cheese then pigs can fly. The moon is made of green cheese. Therefore, pigs can fly" is a well-structured argument.

This is TRUE. This is an instance of modus ponens reasoning and modus ponens arguments are valid/well-structured. To see this more clearly, consider the ...

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