ASSIGNMENT
English Argument:
P1: Abortion is a woman’s right
P2: If Abortion is a woman’s right, then women have the right to control their bodies.
P3: If women have the right to control their bodies, then abortion should be allowed.
P4: Abortion should be allowed, so it could decrease the rate of women dying from unsafe abortion, and abortion is not a crime.
P5: 25 million unsafe abortions takes place each year (https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/sexual-and-reproductive-rights/abortion-facts/)
P6: If 25 million unsafe abortions take place each year, then either abortion is not a women’s right or abortion is a crime
Conclusion: Abortion is not a crime
Translation
p – Abortion is a woman’s right
q – Women have the right to control their bodies.
r – Abortion should be allowed.
s – It could decrease the rate of women dying from unsafe abortion.
t – Abortion is a crime.
v – 25 million unsafe abortions takes place each year.
Proof
1. p Premise
2. p → q Premise
3. q → r Premise
4. r → (s & ~t) Premise
5. v Premise
6. v → (~p V t) Premise
___________________
C: ~t
7. p → r HS (2, 3)
8. r MP (1, 7)
9. (s & ~t) MP (4, 8)
10. ~t Simp. (9)
Explanation and Summary
Do you think your valid argument is also sound?
Do we need empirical research to tell us if the premises are true?
Are there possible ambiguities in how the argument has been translated? Would a reasonable person disagree with any of your translations?
What other information besides symbolic logic might we need to decide whether to accept this argument as sound and believe the conclusion?
In your opinion, did symbolic logic add anything useful to the discussion of this issue?
Did it help you understand it better, or make a better argument for your point of view? Did it just make things more complicated?
If some members of the group disagree on translations, the validity or soundness of the argument as presented, this is the place to include that!
