A restaurant owner makes the following deductive argument: "If our food is too spicy, then customers would complain. Customers have not complained. Therefore, our food is not too spicy." This syllogism is:
A) Valid; affirming the antecedent
B) Invalid; denying the antecedent
C) Invalid; affirming the consequent
D) Valid; denying the consequent

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The argument is a valid form of logical reasoning known as "denying the consequent." It follows the structure: If P, then Q. Not Q, therefore not P. In this case, P is "our food is too spicy," and Q is "customers would complain." Since it's stated that customers have not complained (Not Q), the conclusion is that the food is not too spicy (Not P).

A Restaurant Owner Makes the Following Deductive Argument: "If Our