Chapter 4

Question 1

is an error in reasoning that involves the explicit use of an invalid form

Answer 1

formal fallacy

Question 2

is an error in reasoning that does not involve the explicit use of an invalid form

Answer 2

informal fallacy

Question 3

involves attacking the person who advances an argument (or asserts a statement) as opposed to providing a rational critique of the argument (or statement) itself

Answer 3

argument against the person (or ad hominem fallacy)

Question 4

involves an attempt to discredit an argument or view by launching a direct personal attack

Answer 4

abusive ad hominem

Question 5

involves an attempt to discredit an argument or view by calling attention to the circumstances or situation of those who deviance it

Answer 5

cicumstanstal ad homineum

Question 6

involves an attempt to discredit an argument or view by suggesting that one’s opponent is hypocritical

Answer 6

tu quoque

Question 7

occurs when the arguer attacks a misrepresentation of the opponents view

Answer 7

straw man fallacy

Question 8

occurs when a conclusion is defended by a threat to the well being of those who do not accept it

Answer 8

appeal to force (or ad baculum fallacy)

Question 9

is an attempt to persuade a person or group by appealing to the desire to be accepted or valued by others

Answer 9

appeal to the people

Question 10

is the attempt to support a conclusion merely by evoking pity in one’s audience

Answer 10

appeal to pity (or ad misericordiam fallacy)

Question 11

involves one of the following : either (a) the claim that a statement is true (or may be reasonably believed true) simply because it hasn’t been proven false or (b) the claim that a statement is false (or may be reasonably believed false) simply because it hasn’t been proven true

Answer 11

appeal to ignorance

Question 12

occurs whenever the premises of an argument are logically unrelated to the conclusion

Answer 12

red herring fallacy (or ignoratio elenchi fallacy)

Question 13

occurs when multiple meanings of a word (or phrase) are used in context where validity requires a single meaning of that word (or phrase)

Answer 13

fallacy of equivocation

Question 14

occurs when multiple meanings of a sentence are used in context where (a) validity requires a single meaning and (b) the multiple meanings are due to sentence structure

Answer 14

fallacy of amphiboly

Question 15

involves either (a) an invalid inference from the nature of the parts to the nature of the whole or (b) an invalid inference from attributes of members of a group to attributes of the group itself

Answer 15

fallacy of composition

Question 16

involves either (a) invalid inference from the nature of the whole to the nature of the parts or (b) an invalid inference from the nature of a group to the nature of its members

Answer 16

fallacy of division

Question 17

occurs when an argument assumes the point to be proved

Answer 17

begging the question

Question 18

occurs when one uses a premise that unjustifiably reduces the number of alternatives to be considered

Answer 18

false dilemma

Question 19

is an appeal to an authority when the reliability of the authority may be reasonably doubted

Answer 19

appeal to unrealiable authority

Question 20

occurs when one possible cause of phenomenon is assumed to be a cause although reasons are lacking for excluding other possible causes

Answer 20

false cause fallacy

Question 21

involves asking a question that illegitimately presupposes some conclusion alluded to in the question

Answer 21

complex question fallacy