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Amy Gade

IDS 802: Ways of Knowing in Comparative Perspective


Homework #3
Exercise 1
Argument #1 compares D.H. Lawrences novel, Women in Love, to Mark Twains
Huckleberry Finn to conclude that it must be a masterpiece because they have both
been accused of being carless and loosely constructed.
This is a very weak argument [1] for the following reasons.
1. The sample is small, comparing only 2 pieces of written work is not a
representative sample to make claims of masterpiece level work.
2. Drawing any conclusions about the quality of Lawrences written work by
comparing it to one random sample seems insufficiently cautious.
3. There is only one potential similarity mentioned between the two written works.
The basis of being criticized as careless and loosely constructed does not constitute
a good basis of comparison on which to draw conclusions about the degree to which
these works are noted.
4. There is too little information available to draw reasonable conclusion regarding
the level of work to which this novel is classified.
Exercise 8
Argument #8 compares My country, right or wrong, to My mother, drunk or
sober, to conclude that no patriot would make said claims unless in the most
desperate situation. The similarity between the two is that both phrases can be
viewed as critical statements of something extremely important to someone, ones
country and ones mother.
This argument is weak [1] for the following reasons.
1. This is a conceptual analogy.
2. Any conclusion based on such a weak analogy is unjustified. Furthermore, I am
not sure any such conclusion can be draw from this association claim itself.
3. Simply being viewed as two bold statements made about two things to which
most people, including patriots, are often loyal to does not constitute a good basis
of comparison on which to draw conclusions about what a patriot would say, only in
desperate instances.
4. Not enough information is given to draw reasonable conclusion about what a
patriot would or would not say typically.

Exercise 14
Argument #14 compares previously unknown paintings by Picasso recently found in
Paris to other works by Picasso the author has seen to conclude that it is likely the
author will enjoy these recently rediscovered works. The similarities upon which the
conclusion is based are that these works are all by Picasso, Picassos work
represents a variety of subjects, techniques and styles, and the author has never
seen a Picasso he/she didnt like.
Argument #14 is a strong argument [4] for the following reasons.
1. The sample, while unknown in size, is directly comparing works from the same
artists. The sample is representative of the available work from said artist.
2. The conclusion is a lofty one, stating that it is very likely the author will enjoy
these newly released Picasso works. Given the direct comparison in the sample, the
conclusion seems justified.
3. The fact that all of the paintings in the sample are from the same artist is a
relevant similarity. While every piece of work from an artist can be vastly different,
the sample could probably only be stronger if we knew all art pieces were relative in
type or year produced.
4. Considering the information give, it would be difficult to construct a comparably
strong argument for the conclusion that the artist will likely not enjoy these newly
released works by Picasso.
Exercise 26
Argument #26 compares patients autonomy with assisted dying to a business to
argue that a terminally ill patient owns his or her own body and like with business
should have the ability to decide when productivity, sustainability, or success has
ended.
Argument # 26 is weak [1] for the following reasons.
1. This is a conceptual analogy.
2. Any conclusion based on such a far-stretched, weak analogy is unjustified.
3. There is a crucial dissimilarity between the subjects being compared here. To
compare human life and the capacity to make critical judgments on ones desire to
live at a stage of life/health in which clouded judgment is common with a business
generating income seems eerily disgusting and simply irrelevant.
4. There is too little comparable information provided to draw any reasonable
conclusion.
My Analogical Argument

When vacationing in Florida in early August, my husband and I have decided to stay
at a Holiday Inn Express in Tampa. We are excited for this particular stay because it
is likely this particular hotel will be of high quality, with excellent customer service,
and very cleanly rooms. Through work travel, I have stayed at numerous other
Holiday Inn Express hotel chains and know several other people who prefer this
chain, including some who have stayed at this particular hotel location. These
people have had the same experiences I have with Holiday Inn Express hotels, in
that the customer service is always top notch, rooms are extremely cleanly and
comfortable, the continental breakfast is of quality, and the price is affordable.
Furthermore, the reviews of this particular location online rated the hotel a 4.6 out
of 5.
This argument compares a Holiday Inn Express in Tampa to several other hotels in
the Holiday Inn Express family in which the speaker and the speakers
acquaintances have stayed at to argue that a stay here will likely be of high
quality, with excellent customer service, and very cleanly rooms. The similarities
upon which this judgment is made are that all experiences noted are tied to the
Holiday Inn Express chain.
This is a strong [4] argument for the following reasons.
1. The sample is good. It includes hotels stayed at by the speaker, so the speakers
judgment and experience is accounted for. It also includes other hotels from the
same chain. It is important to note that all the hotel stays mentioned at this chain
have been noted to have strong customer service, clean and comfortable rooms,
quality breakfast, and affordable prices, so 100% of the sample has the same
qualities and principles that the speaker concludes the Tampa location will have.
2. The conclusion is a cautious one, stating only that it is likely the Tampa location
will be of high quality, good customer service, and clean rooms. Given the strength
of the sample, the conclusion seems justified.
3. The fact that all of the hotels in the sample are from the same hotel chain is of
relevant similarity. However, the sample would be even better if all the hotels
compared were built or remodeled in the same time frame or were in the same
demographic area.
4. Considering the information given, it would be difficult to construct a comparably
strong argument for the conclusion that the Holiday Inn Express in Tampa is unlikely
to be high quality, good customer service, and clean rooms.

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