your child is trying to prove that she did not steal chocolate chip cookies from the cookie jar, so she makes this argument: “There are no chocolate stains on my hands, so I couldn’t have stolen the cookies.”
What is your question?
What would be the unstated premise in this argument?
Your child is using a logical argument to defend herself against the accusation of stealing chocolate chip cookies from the cookie jar. She is claiming that because there are no chocolate stains on her hands, she could not have stolen the cookies.
To evaluate the validity of her argument, we need to examine the logic behind it. It is based on the assumption that stealing the cookies would result in chocolate stains on her hands. If this assumption is true, then her argument holds some weight. However, if there are other possible explanations for the absence of chocolate stains on her hands, her argument may not be conclusive.
To determine the validity of her argument, we can follow a logical process called deductive reasoning. Deductive reasoning involves starting with general premises and arriving at a specific conclusion. In this case, the premise would be that stealing cookies would result in chocolate stains on her hands, and the conclusion would be that since she has no chocolate stains on her hands, she did not steal the cookies.
To verify the truth of the premise, we would need evidence or knowledge about whether chocolate stains would indeed appear on her hands if she had stolen the cookies. If it is a known fact that handling chocolate chip cookies generally leaves chocolate stains, then her argument becomes stronger.
However, it is also important to consider alternative explanations for the absence of chocolate stains. For example, she could have used gloves or washed her hands thoroughly after stealing the cookies. In such cases, her argument would be weakened.
In conclusion, your child's argument relies on the assumption that stealing the cookies would result in chocolate stains on her hands. To evaluate the validity of this argument, you should consider whether this assumption is true and whether there are any alternative explanations for the absence of chocolate stains. Ultimately, additional evidence or information would be needed to reach a definitive conclusion.