Chapter 6: Fallacies and Persuaders

Question 1

Define Genetic fallacy

Answer 1

arguing a claim is true or false solely because of its origin

Question 2

Define Composition

Answer 2

arguing that what is true of the parts must be true of the whole

Question 3

Define Division

Answer 3

arguing that what is true of the whole must be true of the parts

Question 4

Define Appeal to the person (ad hominem)

Answer 4

rejecting a claim by criticizing the person who makes it rather than the claim itself

Question 5

Define Equivocation

Answer 5

using a word in two different senses in the same argument

Question 6

Define Appeal to popularity

Answer 6

arguing a claim must be true merely because a substantial number of people believe it

Question 7

Define Appeal to tradition

Answer 7

arguing a claim must be true just because it’s part of a tradition

Question 8

Define Appeal to emotion

Answer 8

using emotions (pity, fear, etc.) rather than relevant reasons as premises

Question 9

Define Appeal to ignorance

Answer 9

arguing that a lack of evidence proves something

Question 10

Define Burden of proof

Answer 10

the weight of evidence or argument required by one side in a debate or disagreement

Question 11

Define Red herring

Answer 11

deliberately raising an irrelevant issue during an argument

Question 12

Define Straw Man

Answer 12

distorting, weakening, or oversimplifying someone’s position so it can be more easily attacked or refuted

Question 13

Define Two wrongs make a right

Answer 13

arguing that doing something immoral is justified because someone else has done the same (or similar) thing

Question 14

Define Begging the question (arguing in a circle)

Answer 14

attempting to establish a conclusion by using that conclusion as a premise

Question 15

Define False dilemma

Answer 15

asserting there are only two alternatives to consider when there are more than two

Question 16

Decision-point fallacy

Answer 16

arguing that because a distinction cannot be drawn at any point in a process, there are no differences or gradations in that process.

Question 17

Define Slippery Slope

Answer 17

arguing, without good reasons, that taking a particular step will inevitably lead to further, undesirable steps

Question 18

Define Hasty generalization

Answer 18

drawing a conclusion about a target group based on an inadequate sample size

Question 19

Define Faulty analogy

Answer 19

a defective argument by analogy in which the things being compared are not sufficiently similar in relevant ways

Question 20

Define Innuendo

Answer 20

suggesting something denigrating about a person without explicitly stating it

Question 21

Define Euphemism

Answer 21

words used to convey positive or neutral attitudes or emotions in place of more negative ones

Question 22

Define Dysphemism

Answer 22

words used to convey negative attitudes or emotions in place of neutral or positive ones

Question 23

Define Stereotyping

Answer 23

drawing an unwarranted conclusion or generalization about an entire group of people

Question 24

Define Ridicule

Answer 24

using derision, sarcasm, laughter, or mockery to disparage a person or idea.

Question 25

Define Rhetorical definitions

Answer 25

using an emotion-charged skewed definition to influence someone