A scandal in bohemia comprehension questions

Question About PHIL

1. King Vikram & the Vampire: Story # 3: "The Parrot and the Thrush: Which are worse, men or women?"

"As he spoke these words, the parrot changed into a god, for the curse was fulfilled, and went to heaven like a god. And the thrush suddenly became a goddess, for her curse was at an end, and flew up likewise to heaven. So their dispute was never settled at that court."

When the vampire had told this story, he asked the king: "O King, tell me. Are men bad, or women? If you know and do not tell, your head will fly to pieces."

King Vikram's Answer:

Here and there, now and then, there is an occasional bad man like that. But women are usually bad. We hear about many of them.

Task:

Probe Vikram's answer with essential questions. Don't forget to ask essential questions on his assumptions! Note that "assumption" is used in a specific sense in critical thinking module # 3. It is an unstated reason. So, neither Vikram's stated reasons nor his conclusion or answer is an "assumption" in this technical sense in critical thinking.

You must identify Vikram's answer and reasons before you can identify his unstated reasons or assumptions. Quote relevant details from the story in your answers.

2. In the story "A Scandal in Bohemia", identify an important clue and a deduction based on it by Sherlock Holmes. State the clue and the deduction each in one concise and clear sentence. Formulate Holmes' reasoning in terms of Modus ponens or Modus tollens or Disjunctive orHypothetical forms of deduction.

Clarification:

Make sure not to switch your clue and deduction when you analyze Holmes' reasoning.Remember, the clue is the premise or reason or the observation and the deduction is the conclusion Holmes draws from the premise, reason, or observation.

Modus Ponens (proving mode):

If you do modus ponens for Holmes' deductions, then the clue must go into the "if..." part and the deduction or conclusion must go into the "then..." part. You then affirm the clue in the second premise and then affirm the deduction in the conclusion.

For example, "If Helen Stoner had a railway return ticket in her hand (clue), then she arrived by train (deduction or conlusion)." Helen Stoner had a railway return ticket in her hand. So, she arrived by train.

Modus Tollens (disproving mode):

If you do modus tollens for Holmes' deductions, then the deduction or conclusion which is disproved goes into the "if..." part and the clue which would support that deduction or conclusion goes into the "then...." part. You then deny the clue in the second premise and then deny the deduction in the conclusion.

For example, "If the gypsies had killed Julia Stoner (deduction or conlcusion to be disproved), then they would have been able to enter her room through the window or the door (clue which would support the deduction or conclusion)." They could not have entered her room through the window or the door. So, the gypsies had not killed Julia Stoner.

Disjunctive syllogism format: 1) Either Drebber died voluntarily or he was murdered. 2) Drebber did not die voluntarily. ----------------------------------------------------------------- C: Drebber was murdered.

Hypothetical syllogism format:

1. If the US launches attacks in Libya and Somalia (X), it will increase the risk of terrorist retaliation against US citizens (Y).

2. If the risk of terrorist retaliation against US citizens increases (Y), their security is undermined (Z).

Therefore, if the US launches attacks in Libya and Somalia (X), it will undermine the security of US citizens (Z).

3. Complex Form of Deduction : 1. If P, then not Q, 2. R or P, 3. Q, 4. If R, then S, 5. If S, then M; What is the final conclusion or deduction from these statements? Use the reading on "Complex Forms of Deduction" in module # 5 on forms of deduction. Follow the format of the steps of deduction and explanations in parentheses given in this reading.

4. Watch the two video clips "Zinn（https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6klXXLQmmwU&x-yt-ts=1421914688&x-yt-cl=84503534 ）（https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuLLUFXQKEY ）: The Misguided Notion of Patriotism" featuring Howard Zinn in "Howard Zinn: The Misguided Notion of Patriotism" in module # 12 "Critical Thinking and Mass Media Propaganda". Identify one main claim made by Howard Zinn in each of these twovideo clips and his supporting reason for the claim. Compare his views to those of Noam Chomsky in the clip "Anti-Americanism" in the same module page. Probe their claims and reasons with essential questions and justify your agreement or disagreement with them.

5. Module 12: Critical Thinking And Mass Media Propaganda: Watch the full video on " Propaganda and Manipulation " by Prof. Jerry Kroth . （https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOgIjSI0FrM ） Identify three techniques of propaganda explained by Prof. Kroth. How does he illustrate each of these three techniques? Clarify his examples and show how they illustrate the propaganda techniques. Did his examples help you to understand the propaganda function of the mass media? Ask some essential questions on these propaganda techniques.

6. Revisiting the topic of immigration in the US, watch the video clips on Chinese immigration and the Chinese Exclusion Act in the module 13 page on "Immigration in a Global World"（https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akC_XNlYeec） How does the information presented in these video clips support Aviva Chomsky's claims on US immigration policy and anti-immigrant culture in the history of the US? (You have seen her video clip and read her articles in the context of DA 2). Watch also the video clips on Iris Chang's presentation on the contributions of Chinese immigrants to the US. What are her main claims and supporting reasons? What essential questions do you have on these issues?