If the northern pike is a ferocious predator, then it is a threat to lake trout. The northern pike is indeed a threat to lake trout. Therefore, the northern pike is a ferocious predator.
A) Inductive, weak.
B) Inductive, strong.
C) Deductive, valid.
D) Inductive, cogent.
E) Deductive, invalid.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The argument is deductive because it attempts to follow a logical structure where the conclusion is supposed to necessarily follow from the premises. However, it is invalid because the conclusion (northern pike is a ferocious predator) does not necessarily follow from the premise given (northern pike is a threat to lake trout). The argument mistakenly reverses the conditionality; just because the northern pike is a threat to lake trout does not inherently mean it's because it is a ferocious predator. There could be other reasons for it being a threat.

If the Northern Pike Is a Ferocious Predator, Then It