Fallacies training

Question 1

Child to playmate: Sesame Street is the best show on TV; and if you don’t believe it, I’m going to call my big brother over here and he’s going to beat you up.

Answer 1

appeal to force , ad baculum

Question 2

Taxpayer to judge: Your Honor, I admit that I declared thirteen children as dependents on my tax return, even though I have only two. But if you find me guilty of tax evasion, my reputation will be ruined. I’ll probably lose my job, my poor wife will not be able to have the operation that she desperately needs, and my kids will starve. Surely I am not guilty.

Answer 2

appeal to pity, argumentum ad misericordiam

Question 3

A Rolls-Royce is not for everyone. If you qualify as one of the select few, this distinguished classic may be seen and driven at British Motor Cars, Ltd. (By appointment only, please.)

Answer 3

appeal to snobbery (appeal to the people)

Question 4

Television entertainer Bill Maher argues that religion is just a lot of foolish nonsense. But Maher is an arrogant, shameless, self-righteous pig. Obviously his arguments are not worth listening to.

Answer 4

argument against the person, ad hominem abusive

Question 5

he Dalai Lama argues that China has no business in Tibet and that the West should do something about it. But the Dalai Lama just wants the Chinese to leave so he can return as leader. Naturally he argues this way. Therefore, we should reject his arguments.

Answer 5

ad hominem circumstantial , argument against the person

Question 6

Political operative Newt Gingrich has argued about the need to preserve family values. But who is he to talk? Gingrich has been married three times. He divorced his rst wife while she was hospitalized for cancer, and he engaged in an extramarital a air while he was married to his second wife. Clearly, Gingrich’s arguments are trash.

Answer 6

argument against the person, tu quoque ( you too)

Question 7

People are obligated to keep their promises. When Jessica married Tyler, she promised to stay with him for life. Therefore, she should stay with him now, even 3 though he has become an abusive spouse addicted to gambling and drugs

Answer 7

accident

Question 8

Mr. Goldberg has argued against prayer in the public schools. Obviously Mr. Goldberg advocates atheism. But atheism is what they used to have in Russia. Atheism leads to the suppression of all religions and the replacement of God by an omnipotent state. Is that what we want for this country? I hardly think so. Clearly Mr. Goldberg’s argument is nonsense.

Answer 8

straw man

Question 9

The student status committee has presented us with an argument favoring alcohol privileges on campus. What do the students want? Is it their intention to stay boozed up from the day they enter as freshmen until the day they graduate? Do they expect us to open a bar for them? Or maybe a chain of bars all over campus? Such a proposal is ridiculous!

Answer 9

straw man

Question 10

Crimes of theft and robbery have been increasing at an alarming rate lately. The con- clusion is obvious: We must reinstate the death penalty immediately.

Answer 10

missing the point - ignoratio elenchi

Question 11

Environmentalists are continually harping about the dangers of nuclear power. Unfortunately, electricity is dangerous no matter where it comes from. Every year hundreds of people are electrocuted by accident. Since most of these accidents are caused by carelessness, they could be avoided if people would just exercise greater caution.

Answer 11

red herring

Question 12

Professor Conway complains of inadequate parking on our campus. But did you know that last year Conway carried on a torrid love a air with a member of the English Department? The two used to meet every day for clandestine sex in the copier room. Apparently they didn’t realize how much you can see through that fogged glass window. Even the students got an eyeful. Enough said about Conway.

Answer 12

red herring

Question 13

James W. Johnston, Chairman of R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, testified before Congress that tobacco is not an addictive substance and that smoking cigarettes does not produce any addiction. Therefore, we should believe him and conclude that smoking does not in fact lead to any addiction.

Answer 13

appeal to unqualified authority

Question 14

Old Mrs. Furguson (who is practically blind) has testified that she saw the defendant stab the victim with a bayonet while she was standing in the twilight shadows 100 yards from the incident. Therefore, members of the jury, you must find the defendant guilty.

Answer 14

appeal to unqualified authority

Question 15

People have been trying for centuries to provide conclusive evidence for the claims of astrology, and no one has ever succeeded. Therefore, we must conclude that astrology is a lot of nonsense.

Answer 15

appeal to ignorance, argumentum ad ignorantiam

Question 16

People have been trying for centuries to disprove the claims of astrology, and no one has ever succeeded. Therefore, we must conclude that the claims of astrology are true.

Answer 16

appeal to ignorance, argumentum ad ignorantiam

Question 17

Before the last presidential election, three residents of Harlem were quoted as saying they supported Barack Obama even though they knew nothing about his policies. Obviously the issues played no role in the outcome of that election.

Answer 17

hasty generalization (converse accident)

Question 18

During the past two months, every time that the cheerleaders have worn blue ribbons in their hair, the basketball team has been defeated. Therefore, to prevent defeats in the future, the cheerleaders should get rid of those blue ribbons.

Answer 18

false cause , post hoc ergo propter hoc ( after this, therefore on account of this)

Question 19

There are more laws on the books today than ever before, and more crimes are being committed than ever before. Therefore, to reduce crime we must eliminate the laws.

Answer 19

false cause , non cause pro causa (not the cause for the cause)

Question 20

Immediate steps should be taken to outlaw pornography once and for all. The continued manufacture and sale of pornographic material will almost certainly lead to an increase in sex-related crimes such as rape and incest. This in turn will gradually erode the moral fabric of society and result in an increase in crimes of all sorts. Eventually a complete disintegration of law and order will occur, leading in the end to the total collapse of civilization.

Answer 20

slippery slope

Question 21

Amber’s dog is similar in many ways to Kyle’s cat. Both like being petted, they enjoy being around people, they beg for food at the dinner table, and they sleep with their owners. Amber’s dog loves to romp on the beach with Amber. Therefore, Kyle’s cat probably loves to romp on the beach with Kyle.

Answer 21

weak analogy

Question 22

The ow of electricity through a wire is similar to the ow of water through a pipe. When water runs downhill through a pipe, the pressure at the bottom of the hill is greater than it is at the top. Thus, when electricity ows downhill through a wire, the voltage should be greater at the bottom of the hill than at the top.

Answer 22

weak analogy

Question 23

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

Answer 23

begging the question (petitio principii)

Question 24

Clearly, terminally ill patients have a right to doctor-assisted suicide. After all, many of these people are unable to commit suicide by themselves.

Answer 24

begging the question (petitio principii)

Question 25

It’s obvious that the poor in this country should be given handouts from the government. After all, these people earn less than the average citizen.

Answer 25

begging the question (petitio principii)

Question 26

Anyone who preaches revolution has a vision of the future for the simple reason that if a person has no vision of the future he could not possibly preach revolution.

Answer 26

begging the question (petitio principii)

Question 27

Verizon has the best cell phone service. After all, their phones have the clearest sound.
And we know this is so because customers hear better on Verizon phones. And this 3 follows from the fact that Verizon has digital technology. But this is exact

Answer 27

begging the question (petitio principii)

Question 28

Have you stopped cheating on exams?

Answer 28

complex question

Question 29

Where did you hide the marijuana you were smoking?

Answer 29

complex question

Question 30

Either you let me attend the Dixie Chicks 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.

Answer 30

false dichotomy

Question 31

Either you buy only American-made products or you don’t deserve to be called a loyal American. Yesterday you bought a new Toyota. It’s therefore clear that you don’t deserve to be called a loyal American.

Answer 31

false dichotomy

Question 32

The ad for Kentucky Fried Chicken says, “Buy a bucket of chicken and have a barrel of fun!” Therefore, if we buy a bucket of that chicken, we will be guaranteed to have lots of fun.

Answer 32

suppressed evidence

Question 33

During the past sixty years, Poland has enjoyed a rather low standard of living. Therefore, Poland will probably have a low standard of living for the next sixty years.

Answer 33

suppressed evidence

Question 34

The Second Amendment to the Constitution states that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. But a law controlling handguns would infringe the right to keep and bear arms. Therefore, a law controlling handguns would be unconstitutional.

Answer 34

suppressed evidence

Question 35

We have a duty to do what is right. We have a right to speak out in defense of the innocent. Therefore, we have a duty to speak out in defense of the innocent.

Answer 35

equivocation

Question 36

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.

Answer 36

equivocation

Question 37

John told Henry that he had made a mistake. It follows that John has at least the courage to admit his own mistakes.

Answer 37

amphiboly

Question 38

Mr. James signed a contract that reads, “In exchange for painting my house, I promise to pay David $5,000 and give him my new Cadillac only if he finishes the job by May 1.” Therefore, since David did not finish until May 10, it follows that he gets neither the $5,000 nor the Cadillac.

Answer 38

amphiboly

Question 39

Maria likes anchovies. She also likes chocolate ice cream. Therefore, it is certain that she would like a chocolate sundae topped with anchovies.

Answer 39

composition

Question 40

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

Answer 40

composition

Question 41

This airplane was made in Seattle. Therefore, every component part of this airplane was made in seattle

Answer 41

division

Question 42

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.

Answer 42

division