Irrevelant Premises (General)

Question 0

• The use of emotions as premises in an argument
• Appeals to people’s feelings, rather than their reason
• Includes vanity, force, pity, fear, disgust, affection, anger, excitement, etc.
• Common with television and other advertising media

Answer 0

Appeal to Emotion

Question 1

You may have a lot to do, but it won’t be any fun for me if you don’t come to the party.

Answer 1

Appeal to Emotion

Question 2

We may think it might be a good idea for you to get out and campaign for Mayor Dole in this election, Mr. Parks Commissioner, because if you don’t, and Mayor Dole wins, well, you might be out of a job! And, you know, we’d really hate to see you lose your job! So, really, we’re just giving you a little bit of friendly advice here that’s all. We’re looking out for you!

Answer 2

Appeal to Emotion

Question 3

• Rejecting a claim by criticizing the person who makes it rather than the claim itself
• Usually focuses on personal facts rather than facts of the issue at hand
• Attempts to undermine a person’s credibility
  
  • Attacks on personal character are rarely relevant
• Includes guilt by association

Answer 3

Appeal to the Person

Question 4

Paul Robeson’s accomplishments as an actor and singer are overrated. Really, he was not good at either. After all, he was well known to be pro-Communist and an admirer of Stalin.

Answer 4

Appeal to the Person

Question 5

• Arguing that a claim must be true merely because a substantial number of people believe it.
• Exploits our desire to join with common experiences of others.

Answer 5

Appeal to Popularity

Question 6

Join the millions of customers who have purchased our wireless service. What are you waiting for?

Answer 6

Appeal to Popularity

Question 7

• Arguing that a claim is true or good just because it’s part of a tradition
• Doing something in the past is not a good reason to continue doing something until we analyze merits/demerits

Answer 7

Appeal to Tradition

Question 8

Acupuncture has been used for a thousand years in China. It must work.

Answer 8

Appeal to Tradition

Question 9

• Arguing that a claim is true or false solely because of its origin
• Rejecting claims based merely on where they came from

Answer 9

Genetic Fallacy

Question 10

Russell’s idea about tax hikes for the middle class came to him in a dream, so it must be a terrible idea.

Answer 10

Genetic Fallacy

Question 11

• The deliberate raising of an irrelevant issue during an argument
• Sidetracking an argument by going off on a tangent and bringing up a different issue
  
  • Usually the shift is unnoticed
• Reasons provided fail to be logically related to conclusion
• Often used in political debates

Answer 11

Red Herring

Question 12

These farms are not cruel to animals. After all, the farms provide the food that most consumers want, and they do so in a manner that is cost-effective; moreover, these poultry, pork, and beef products are nourishing and contribute to the overall health of American families.

Answer 12

Red Herring

Question 13

• Arguing that you are doing something justifiable because someone else has done the same thing
• Sometimes calls attention to a person’s hypocrisy on the same view

Answer 13

Two Wrongs Make a Right

Question 14

I downloaded only 20 copyrighted songs - my friends have taken many more than that.

Answer 14

Two Wrongs Make a Right

Question 15

• Arguing that a lack of evidence proves something

- A mistake because a lack of evidence to the contrary proves nothing!

Answer 15

Appeal to Ignorance

Question 16

No one has shown that ESP is false. Therefore, ESP is true.

Answer 16

Appeal to Ignorance

Question 17

No one has shown that life on Mars is true. Therefore, life on Mars is false.

Answer 17

Appeal to Ignorance

Question 18

In the 1800 presidential campaign, President John Adams was accused of being “a fool, a gross hypocrite, and an unprincipled oppressor.” His opponent, Thomas Jefferson was called “an uncivilized Athiest, anti-American, a tool for the godless French.”

Answer 18

Appeal to the Person

Question 19

In 1950, when Senator Joseph McCarthy was asked about the fortieth name on a list of 81 names of people he claimed were Communists working for the U.S. Department of State, he responded that “I do not have much information on this except the general statement of the agency that there is nothing in the files to disprove his Communist Connections.”

Answer 19

Appeal to Ignorance

Question 20

I’ve been working hard in this course. Any grade below an A would adversely affect my chances for law school. Thus, I should get an A in this course.

Answer 20

Appeal to Emotion

-Pity

Question 21

Father says, “Joey, it’s time to brush your teeth and get in bed.” Joey says, “You didn’t tell that to Suzy.” Father says, “Suzy’s older than you.” Joey says, “But I’m taker than she is, and yesterday she got a cool new toothbrush when I didn’t…”

Answer 21

Red Herring

Question 22

That proposal must be rejected because it came from the Green Party.

Answer 22

Genetic Fallacy

Question 23

If you don’t accept, like we always have, that the Sun orbits the Earth then you’ll be excommunicated from this organization.

Answer 23

Appeal to Tradition

Question 24

Of course I cheated on the test - everyone else was cheating, too,

Answer 24

Appeal to Popularity

Question 25

Yes, I hit my sister, but only after she hit me!

Answer 25

Two Wrongs Make a Right