EXAMPLE 2.2.3 SOLUTION

Let p be the statement: "We strive." Let q be the statement: "We excel." Then the premise arrangement has this symbolic form:

P arrow q.

Not p.

We need to recognize that this is the premise arrangement for a form of invalid reasoning (Fallacy of the Inverse). This means that it is not possible to arrive at a non-trivial valid conclusion (see note above on Trivial Valid Conclusions); in other words, we would like to conclude "Therefore, not q ('We didn't excel)," but that conclusion would give us an invalid argument.

The correct choice is D.