Unit 3 Fallacies

Question 1

Affirming the Consequent

Answer 1

P1: If P then Q
P2: Q
Therefore, P

Question 2

P1: If P then Q
P2: Q
Therefore, P

Answer 2

Affirming the Consequent

Question 3

Denying the Antecedent

Answer 3

P1: If P then Q
P2: Not P
Therefore, not Q

Question 4

P1: If P then Q
P2: Not P
Therefore, not Q

Answer 4

Denying the Antecedent

Question 5

Slippery slope

Answer 5

A small occurrence will lead to a chain reaction until something far beyond logical.

Question 6

A small occurrence will lead to a chain reaction until something far beyond logical.

Answer 6

Slippery slope

Question 7

Slippery slope

Answer 7

A small occurrence will lead to a chain reaction until something far beyond logical.

Question 8

Loaded question

Answer 8

Rhetorical question that has a controversial assumption. Thus, making the opposing person not being able to answer.

Question 9

A small occurrence will lead to a chain reaction until something far beyond logical.

Answer 9

Slippery slope

Question 10

Rhetorical question that has a controversial assumption. Thus, making the opposing person not being able to answer.

Answer 10

Loaded question

Question 11

Post hoc ergo propter hoc (false cause)

Answer 11

Since B occurred after A, A must’ve caused B.

Question 12

Since B occurred after A, A must’ve caused B.

Answer 12

Post hoc ergo propter hoc (false cause)

Question 13

Strawman

Answer 13

Misconstruing someone’s argument to make it easier to attack.

Question 14

Misconstruing someone’s argument to make it easier to attack.

Answer 14

Strawman

Question 15

Black and white fallacy (false dilemma)

Answer 15

Choose either black or white when grey is an available alternative. You’re only given a choice between two options.

Question 16

Choose either black or white when grey is an available alternative. You’re only given a choice between two options.

Answer 16

Black and white fallacy (false dilemma)

Question 17

Ad hominem (abusive and circumstantial)

Answer 17

Attacking the person instead of the argument.

Question 18

Attacking the person instead of the argument.

Answer 18

Ad hominem (abusive and circumstantial)

Question 19

Tu quoque (Illicit appeal to hypocrisy)

Answer 19

Calling the person a hypocrite for doing something similar to the argument they are making.
E.g. What do you mean that I should drive with my seat belt on? I have seen you drive over the speed limit often enough.

Question 20

Calling the person a hypocrite for doing something similar to the argument they are making.
E.g. What do you mean that I should drive with my seat belt on? I have seen you drive over the speed limit often enough.

Answer 20

Tu quoque (Illicit appeal to hypocrisy)

Question 21

Faulty analogy

Answer 21

An assumption that two things have the same characteristic because they share at least one other similar characteristic.
E.g. Gamblers and stock traders both risk their money for profit, so being a stock trader is the same as being a gambler.

Question 22

An assumption that two things have the same characteristic because they share at least one other similar characteristic.
E.g. Gamblers and stock traders both risk their money for profit, so being a stock trader is the same as being a gambler.

Answer 22

Faulty analogy

Question 23

Hasty generalisation

Answer 23

From one occurrence, they apply that information to the larger population/group.
E.g. I had a terrible time with my former wife. I am never going to marry again because I have learned that no women are easy to live with.

Question 24

Ad populum (illicit appeal to popular opinion/bandwagon fallacy)

Answer 24

Appealing to public opinion or jumping on the bandwagon. Thus, believing popular opinion is always right.
E.g. These days everyone (except you) has a car and knows how to drive; So, you too should have a car and know how to drive.

Question 25

Appealing to public opinion or jumping on the bandwagon. Thus, believing popular opinion is always right.
E.g. These days everyone (except you) has a car and knows how to drive; So, you too should have a car and know how to drive.

Answer 25

Ad populum (illicit appeal to popular opinion/bandwagon fallacy)

Question 26

Illicit appeal to nature

Answer 26

Believing natural things are better than non-natural things.

Question 27

Believing natural things are better than non-natural things.

Answer 27

Illicit appeal to nature

Question 28

Ad verecundiam (appeal to the wrong authority)

Answer 28

Blindly believing something just because the person they admire said it.

Question 29

Blindly believing something just because the person they admire said it.

Answer 29

Ad verecundium (appeal to the wrong authority)

Question 30

Ad misericordiam (illicit appeal to emotion)

Answer 30

Persuading by guilt tripping using (irrelevant) feelings of sympathy.
E.g. “You should not find the defendant guilty of murder, since it would break his poor mother’s heart to see him sent to jail.”

Question 31

Persuading by guilt tripping using (irrelevant) feelings of sympathy.
E.g. “You should not find the defendant guilty of murder, since it would break his poor mother’s heart to see him sent to jail.”

Answer 31

Ad misericordiam (illicit appeal to emotion)

Question 32

Gambler’s fallacy

Answer 32

A random event is less or more likely to happen based on results from a previous event.

Question 33

A random event is less or more likely to happen based on results from a previous event.

Answer 33

Gambler’s fallacy

Question 34

Composition

Answer 34

Something is true of the whole just because it is true of some part of the whole.

Question 35

Something is true of the whole just because it is true of some part of the whole.

Answer 35

Composition

Question 36

Division

Answer 36

An individual assumes that something that is true for a whole must also be true of all or some of its parts.

Question 37

An individual assumes that something that is true for a whole must also be true of all or some of its parts.

Answer 37

Division