Question

In Wason's 4 card task, why should you flip over the A to confirm the rule "If a card has a vowel on one side, it must have an even number on the other side"?

a) follows modus ponens
b) follows modus tollens
c) should not flip over the A

Answer 1

In Wason's 4-card task, flipping over the A card confirms the rule 'If a card has a vowel on one side, it must have an even number on the other side' following the logic of modus ponens.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Wason's 4 card task, you should flip over the A to confirm the rule 'If a card has a vowel on one side, it must have an even number on the other side' because it follows the logic of modus ponens. Modus ponens is a valid form of inference where the antecedent of a conditional statement is affirmed, leading to the conclusion that the consequent is true. In this case, the affirmation of the A card having a vowel on one side affirms the antecedent of the conditional rule, which implies that an even number must be on the other side.