Question
Consider the following example of the logical fallacy of appeal to ignorance. Complete parts (a) through (c). Decades of searching has not revealed life on other planets, so life in the universe must be confined to Earth. a. Identify the premise and conclusion of the argument. Choose the correct answer below. A. Premise: Life in the universe may not be confined to Earth. Conclusion: Decades of searching has not revealed life on other planets. B. Premise: Decades of searching has not revealed life on other planets. Conclusion: Life in the universe may not be confined to Earth. C. Premise: Life in the universe must be confined to Earth. Conclusion: Decades of searching has not revealed life on other planets. D. Premise: Decades of searching has not revealed life on other planets. Conclusion: Life in the universe must be confined to Earth.
Ask by Bright Erickson. in the United States
Jan 23,2025
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Answer
**Premise:** Decades of searching have not found life on other planets.
**Conclusion:** Life in the universe must be confined to Earth.
**Answer:** D
Solution
The argument presented is:
"Decades of searching has not revealed life on other planets, so life in the universe must be confined to Earth."
**Part (a): Identify the premise and conclusion of the argument.**
- **Premise:** Decades of searching has not revealed life on other planets.
- **Conclusion:** Life in the universe must be confined to Earth.
**Correct Answer:**
**D. Premise: Decades of searching has not revealed life on other planets. Conclusion: Life in the universe must be confined to Earth.**
**Explanation:**
- The premise provides the evidence or reason supporting the argument.
- The conclusion is the statement that the argument is trying to prove.
- In this case, the lack of evidence for extraterrestrial life (premise) is used to conclude that life must be exclusive to Earth (conclusion).
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D. Premise: Decades of searching has not revealed life on other planets. Conclusion: Life in the universe must be confined to Earth. This argument exemplifies the appeal to ignorance fallacy, as it draws a conclusion based on the lack of evidence rather than positive evidence for its claim. In logic and reasoning, just because something hasn't been proven true doesn't automatically mean it's false!
