Worksheet:
Deriving Assumptions from Deductive Arguments
Although constructing idea plans is
challenging at every turn, a step that many people find especially difficult is
deriving the major premise or the assumption behind the plan’s reasoning.
Please try to derive the assumptions for the plans below. Then go to our web
page to get the solutions.
1. The controller is a crook because the
controller embezzled company funds.
Assumption:
2. Cost containment in medical care will hurt
the quality of patient care because cost containment in medical care will cause
physicians to perform unnecessary operations.
Assumption:
3. The company's reputation for unsafe
practices will cause a reduction in product purchases because the company's
reputation for unsafe practices will cause customers to boycott its products.
Assumption:
4. Establishing quality circles within this
division will improve employee performance because establishing these circles
will cause employees to perceive that management values their ideas about and
participation in the running of the company.
Assumption: