Question

A professor knows that if it is raining outside, the window of her office will be wet. She looks at her window and notices that it is wet. She, therefore, concludes that it must be raining outside. Which kind of reasoning is she using?
a. Affirming the consequent
b. Affirming the antecedent
c. Denying the consequent
d. Denying the antecedent

Answer 1

She is using affirming the consequent kind of reasoning.

Answer: Option A

Explanation:

Here, professor has established a sure procedure that if it’s raining outside window of office will be wet but actually reason may vary at some point therefore affirming the consequent is also called as inverted error. It is common in day to day communication and thinking.

Such behaviors result from other causes, misunderstanding about logic, deny understanding other’s reasons and communication issues. A professor established affirming the consequent kind of reasoning which is also understood as confusion of sufficiency and necessity.