Read the following passage. Some companies offer short-term loans to people who are unable to borrow money from banks, for example because they are unemployed. The companies charge very high rates of interest on these loans. These loans are immoral because people that use them end up taking on yet more debt just to pay back what they borrowed originally. It is wrong to deliberately lend money to people who you know can’t pay it back quickly.
1. Analyse an argument in this passage using an argument diagram.
Read the following passage.
These companies argue that although their interest rates are high they aren’t as high as borrowing money from criminals, which may be the only alternative. People who do resort to borrowing money from criminals often suffer intimidation, harassment, or violence when they can’t pay them back. This can lead to a general decline of the areas where they live. This is a compelling point in defence of companies offering short-term loans.
2. Evaluate whether this passage contains a slippery slope.
3. Explain how philosophers use thought experiments, with reference to an example.
4. Explain the features of analogical arguments in philosophy, with reference to an example.
5. Explain the fallacy of affirming the consequent, with reference to an example.