fallacies and stats

Question 1

Red herring:

Answer 1

bringing in an irrelevant premise that ”feels” relevant, but it is not.

Question 2

bringing in an irrelevant premise that ”feels” relevant, but it is not.

Answer 2

Red herring:

Question 3

False dilemma

Answer 3

suggesting “either…or” when other options exist

Question 4

suggesting “either…or” when other options exist

Answer 4

False dilemma:

Question 5

Appeal to Pity:

Answer 5

which uses the negativity outcomes of a premise to suggest it is false. (A kind of red herring)

Question 6

which uses the negativity outcomes of a premise to suggest it is false. (A kind of red herring)

Answer 6

Appeal to Pity:

Question 7

Ad Hominem:

Answer 7

Attacking the person rather than the idea- (A kind of red herring)

Question 8

Attacking the person rather than the idea- (A kind of red herring)

Answer 8

Ad Hominem:

Question 9

Argument from ignorance

Answer 9

(“since X has not been proved false, it is therefore true”)

Question 10

(“since X has not been proved false, it is therefore true”)

Answer 10

Argument from ignorance

Question 11

Appeal to popularity

Answer 11

: “getting on the bandwagon” because “everyone says so”)

Question 12

: “getting on the bandwagon” because “everyone says so”)

Answer 12

Appeal to popularity

Question 13

Appeal to inappropriate authority

Answer 13

Justification from an irrelevant person, serving as expert in the argument

Question 14

Justification from an irrelevant person, serving as expert in the argument

Answer 14

Appeal to inappropriate authority

Question 15

Begging the question

Answer 15

presupposing the conclusion that has to be justified by the premise

Question 16

presupposing the conclusion that has to be justified by the premise

Answer 16

Begging the question

Question 17

Hasty generalization:

Answer 17

forming a general proposition from insufficient or flawed evidence

Question 18

forming a general proposition from insufficient or flawed evidence

Answer 18

Hasty generalization:

Question 19

Slippery slope

Answer 19

exaggeration of the consequences when the outcome is not actually known)

Question 20

exaggeration of the consequences when the outcome is not actually known)

Answer 20

Slippery slope

Question 21

Equivocation:

Answer 21

an argument using one word to mean two different things

Question 22

an argument using one word to mean two different things

Answer 22

Equivocation:

Question 23

We can’t stop enforcing laws
prohibiting littering, loitering,
and panhandling, without
putting in danger our laws
against murder, rape, and assault

Answer 23

false dilemma

Question 24

Jean Charest was wrong about
Weapons of Mass Destruction.
He’s a terrible painter. He
definitely is wrong about health
care

Answer 24

hasty generalization

Question 25

◦We can achieve peace in the
Middle East by economic
sanctions, or by a full-on military
assault. It is clear that economic
sanctions have led to a dead-end,
so it is time to get the troops
ready.

Answer 25

false dilemma

Question 26

I need a heavy duty truck.
Wayne Gretzky says that these
latest Ford models are as tough
as trucks come, so maybe I’ll get
one of those

Answer 26

inappropriate form of autorithy

Question 27

Cheating on a romantic partner
cannot be justified. The reason
is that it is never acceptable for a
romantic partner to cheat on
their partner. It follows that
cheating cannot be justified.

Answer 27

begging the question

Question 28

Unreliable
Statistics

Answer 28

If a poll is taken of people but the
question is formulated in a way
where the answer may be
untrustworthy because the
individual may not answer honestly,

Question 29

If a poll is taken of people but the
question is formulated in a way
where the answer may be
untrustworthy because the
individual may not answer honestly,

Answer 29

Unreliable
Statistics

Question 30

Confusing use
of averages

Answer 30

Make sure the “average” in question
is directly related to the situation

Question 31

Make sure the “average” in question
is directly related to the situation

Answer 31

Confusing use
of averages

Question 32

Proving one
thing,
Concluding
Another

Answer 32

Don’t draw conclusions that
data that the study isn’t
directly supporting

Question 33

Don’t draw conclusions that
data that the study isn’t
directly supporting

Answer 33

Proving one
thing,
Concluding
Another

Question 34

Biased Sample

Answer 34

Choosing to do research on only a subset of
potential subjects because you know that group
will provide you the results you want,

Question 35

Choosing to do research on only a subset of
potential subjects because you know that group
will provide you the results you want,

Answer 35

Biased Sample

Question 36

Deceiving by
omitting
information

Answer 36

Gatorade is 25% better

Question 37

Gatorade is 25% better

Answer 37

Deceiving by
omitting
information

Question 38

Size of sample

Answer 38

Make sure a
study has enough
participants to draw
conclusion- also known as a
fallacy of generalization

Question 39

Make sure a
study has enough
participants to draw
conclusion- also known as a
fallacy of generalization

Answer 39

Size of sample

Question 40

Date of sample

Answer 40

the date of a study is
acceptable- this will depend
on the subject

Question 41

the date of a study is
acceptable- this will depend
on the subject

Answer 41

Date of sample

Question 42

According to a survey, only 2%
of 19 year olds had broken the
law at least once by the time
they are 18

Answer 42

unreliable statistics

Question 43

After surveying a class of fifth
graders from a grade school in
Westmount Montreal, it was
found that half the students in
the class had tried smoking pot
at least once. Therefore,
marijuana is not dangerous for
children.

Answer 43

proving one thing concluding another

Question 44

A survey was given to Westmount
children asking them what their
extracurricular activities were.
67% answered that they took
private music lessons on a weekly
basis. From this, one can see
that Quebec children have plenty
of money to take advantage of
music lessons.”

Answer 44

biased sample