Question 1

Whatever you do, never accept a date from Ken Bradshaw. The last woman to date Ken broke up with him in just 3 weeks and became a lesbian.

Accepted Answer

The argument commits the false cause fallacy by implying that dating Ken caused the woman to become a lesbian, without any evidence to support this causal connection.

Question 2

It's never a good idea to allow your teenage kids to have a sip of champagne on New Year's Eve. Next you know they'll be drinking beer during TV football games. Then it'll be wine every night at dinner. Then Bloody Marys every morning. Soon they'll be raging alcoholics, and the costs for rehab will be enormous.

Accepted Answer

The argument is using a slippery slope fallacy by suggesting that allowing teenage kids to have a sip of champagne on New Year's Eve will inevitably lead them to becoming raging alcoholics and needing rehab. This is an exaggerated and unlikely scenario, and there is no evidence to support the claim that one sip of champagne will lead to such extreme consequences.

Question 3

Hugo lost an arm in a car accident last year. But surely he will get it back. Most things that are lost turn up sooner or later.

Accepted Answer

The statement relies on equivocation, as it uses the phrase "lost turn up" in a way that suggests that something that is lost will inevitably be found, but this is not necessarily the case when it comes to a physical body part.

Question 4

There is a lot of talk these days about the need for greater fuel economy in SUV's. But today's SUV's are really beautiful. The Cadillac Escalade has clean lines, supple leather, and polished hardwood. The Lincoln Navigator features beautiful paint and the feel of strength and security. And the Mercury Mariner has wonderful styling and a great sound system. Who could ask for anything more?

Accepted Answer

The argument distracts from the issue of fuel economy by focusing on the aesthetic and luxury features of SUVs, which is a red herring fallacy.

Question 5

Dorothy has blue eyes and blond hair. Therefore, probably her identical twin sister Theodora has blue eyes and blond hair.

Accepted Answer

Identical twins share the same genetic makeup, which includes genes for physical traits such as eye and hair color. Therefore, if Dorothy has blue eyes and blond hair, it is logical and probable that her identical twin sister, Theodora, would share these traits. This statement does not contain a logical fallacy; it is based on a reasonable inference from genetic principles.

Question 6

A hundred years ago people listened to recorded music on their gramophones. There are very few gramophones around today. Therefore, probably people listen to less recorded music today than they did a hundred years ago.

Accepted Answer

The argument ignores the development of new technologies for listening to recorded music, such as radios, CDs, streaming services, etc., which have replaced gramophones but significantly increased access to and consumption of recorded music.

Question 7

Professor Gibson said that he teaches only dead white philosophers. Therefore, it must be the case that all of his students are dead.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Professor Gibson said that he teaches only...

Question 8

Standard & Poors, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, AIG, Merrill Lynch, Bank of America-all of these companies continue to pay their top executives huge bonuses. It must be the case that every American company pays its top executives huge bonuses.

Accepted Answer

This is a hasty generalization because the author is assuming that all American companies pay their top executives huge bonuses based on a limited sample of companies. The author should investigate more companies before making such a broad claim.

Question 9

Judge, surely I'm not obligated to pay $250,000 in back taxes. If you were to decide against me, it would really put a crimp in my finances. I wouldn't be able to afford that new BMW, and my social status in our upscale neighborhood will drop like a rock.

Accepted Answer

The speaker is attempting to appeal to the judge's emotions by making them feel sorry for the impact the ruling would have on their finances and social status. This is an appeal to pity fallacy.

Question 10

The new Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan says that interracial marriage is a crime against nature. Therefore, that interracial couple who just moved into the neighborhood must be a pair of criminals.

Accepted Answer

The fallacy here is an appeal to unqualified authority because the argument relies on the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan's opinion on interracial marriage as if it were a credible source for legal or moral guidance, which it is not.

Question 11

Congressman Baxter, I know you will want to support our application to clear-cut the old growth timber in the Great Northern forest. After all, surely you don't want the media to find out about that affair you've been having with a certain Capitol Hill intern.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of an appeal to force, as the speaker is using the threat of revealing sensitive information to coerce the Congressman into supporting their application.

Question 12

Either Thomas Edison or Samuel F. B. Morse invented the telegraph. But it wasn't Edison. Therefore, Morse invented the telegraph.

Accepted Answer

The argument correctly uses the process of elimination to conclude that since Edison did not invent the telegraph, Morse must have been the inventor, assuming no other inventors are possible.

Question 13

Dr. Niels Langer, the universally recognized climatologist, says that global warming is an extremely important problem that must be addressed immediately. Therefore, we should take him at his word and get to work on solving this problem right now.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Dr. Niels Langer, the universally recognized climatologist,...

Question 14

Radio host Rush Limbaugh argues that the Affordable Care Act is doomed to failure. But who is this screwball Limbaugh? He's nothing but a fascist, sexist, homophobic, drug-addicted moron, who will say anything to stir up the ultra right. Every sane person should shut him off.

Accepted Answer

This is an argument against the person, abusive, attacking Limbaugh's character instead of addressing his argument.

Question 15

Tom Larsen could not have written this fine term paper. Tom is as stupid as the day is long, and he can't put three words together to form an intelligent sentence.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Tom Larsen could not have written this...

Question 16

William likes to eat. He also likes to make love. It follows that William likes to eat while he's making love.

Accepted Answer

The fallacy of composition is assuming that what is true of the parts must be true of the whole. The statement erroneously combines William's separate interests into a single activity, assuming without justification that because he likes both activities separately, he must like them together.

Question 17

Professor Harris gives a number of reasons why we should turn off our cell phones during class. It appears that Harris is one of those Luddites who are opposed to technology altogether. No laptops, no iPads, no digital cameras-that's what Harris wants. But that's just ridiculous. Thus, it's clear that Harris is wrong.

Accepted Answer

The argument misrepresents Professor Harris's position by exaggerating it to an extreme that was not stated, making it easier to attack. This is characteristic of a straw man fallacy.

Question 18

Either you buy me a new Rolls Royce or I'll have to walk to work in the snow. And I'm sure you don't want me to do that.

Accepted Answer

The statement presents a false dichotomy, suggesting that either the person gets a new Rolls Royce or they will have to suffer walking to work in the snow, without considering other options such as purchasing a more affordable car or finding alternative transportation methods.

Question 19

The war in Iraq was justified beyond any question. America was founded in the spirit of freedom and self-determination, and it finds its destiny in liberating the victims of tyranny wherever they languish! America is a beacon of hope for the oppressed, a refuge for the downtrodden, a shining star of freedom for the whole world! The hand of the Almighty points the way! Every true patriot will heed the clarion call of freedom for all humankind!

Accepted Answer

The argument uses emotional language and appeals to the sense of national pride and identity to persuade the audience, which is characteristic of an "Appeal to the people" fallacy. It does not logically argue the justification of the war in Iraq but rather tries to rally support through patriotic sentiment.

Question 20

Every component in this boat is made of rust-proof material. Therefore, the entire boat is rust-proof.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Every component in this boat is made...

Quiz 3: Informal Fallacies