During the past 80 years, the number of Model T Fords on the highway has steadily fallen while the number of deaths from lung cancer has steadily risen. Thus, to reduce the number of deaths from lung cancer we should bring back the Model T Ford.
A) Deductive, invalid.
B) Inductive, weak.
C) Deductive, valid.
D) Inductive, strong.
E) Inductive, cogent.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The argument is inductive because it infers a causal relationship between two trends (the decline of Model T Fords and the rise in lung cancer deaths) without providing a logically necessary conclusion. However, it is weak because the correlation does not imply causation, and the argument lacks evidence that directly links the presence of Model T Fords to a decrease in lung cancer deaths.

During the Past 80 Years, the Number of Model T