The inherent fallacy in the argument that capital punishment is not a deterrent (since pockets were being picked even at the public hanging of a pickpocket) is that
A) pickpockets were never hanged
B) you can't compare groups of unequal sizes
C) there was no comparison or control group
D) you can't make comparisons with only nominal data

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The argument lacks a comparison or control group to accurately determine the deterrence effect of capital punishment. Simply observing pickpockets being caught during a public hanging does not provide enough evidence to make a conclusion about the effectiveness of the death penalty as a deterrent. Therefore, the argument is flawed because it lacks a comparison group to prove or disprove the deterrence effect of capital punishment.

The Inherent Fallacy in the Argument That Capital Punishment Is