Chapter 3.4

Question 1

Begging the question

Answer 1

“Request for the source”
“But how do you know X? where X is the needed support”

Murder is morally wrong. This being the case, it follows that abortion is morally wrong.

Question 2

Complex question

Answer 2

2 or more questions are asked in the guise of a single question and a single answer is given to both of them.

Have you stopped cheating on exams?

Question 3

False Dichotomy

Answer 3

“Either…or…”

Either you let me attend the Lady Gaga concert or I’ll be miserable for the rest of my life. I know you don’t want me to be miserable for the rest of my life, so it follows that you’ll let me attend the concert.

Question 4

Suppressed Evidence

Answer 4

If an inductive argument ignores evidence

Most dogs are friendly and pose no threat to people who pet them. Therefore, it would be safe to pet the little dog that is approaching us now.

Question 5

Equivocation

Answer 5

When the conclusion of an argument depends on the fact that a word or phrase is used.

Any law can be repealed by the legislative authority. But the law of gravity is a law. Therefore, the law of gravity can be repealed by the legislative authority.

Question 6

Amphiboly

Answer 6

When the arguer misinterprets an ambiguous statement, and then draws a conclusion based on this faulty interpretation.

Professor Johnson said that he will give a lecture about heart failure in the biology lecture hall. It must be the case that a number of heart failures have occurred there recently.

Question 7

Composition

Answer 7

Because the ‘parts’ have a certain attribute, it follows that the ‘whole’ has that attribute.

Each atom in this teacup is invisible. Therefore, this teacup is invisible.

Question 8

Division

Answer 8

(Opposite of Composition) From a ‘whole (Class) onto it’s parts (members).

The Royal Society is over 300 years old. Professor Thompson is a member of the Royal Society. Therefore, Professor Thompson is over 300 years old.