Each of the passages below contains one of the major fallacies we have discussed so far:
Fallacy |
Definition |
Loaded question |
Asking a question with a false or debatable presupposition. |
Question-begging language |
Using descriptions that build in a conclusion without offering evidence for it. |
Equivocation |
Using an ambiguous word, phrase or sentence to confuse or mislead. |
Accent |
Changing the meaning of a sentence that is unambiguous in the context by omitting or stressing words in it. |
Composition |
Arguing that what is true of the parts must be true of the whole, or using a word distributively in the premises and collectively in the conclusion. |
Division |
Arguing that what is true of the whole must be true of the parts, or using a word collectively in the premises and distributively in the conclusion. |
Pooh-poohing |
Dismissing rather than arguing against a legitimate point of view. |
Shifting the burden of proof/appeal to ignorance |
Instead of providing evidence for your point of view, you demand that others prove you wrong, or point to the lack of any evidence as if it were evidence. |
Appeal to hate |
Using irrelevant feelings of hate rather than evidence to discredit a point of view. |
Appeal to fear |
Using irrelevant feelings of fear rather than evidence to discredit a point of view. |
Appeal to pity |
Using irrelevant feelings of sympathy rather than evidence to discredit a point of view. |
Appeal to the crowd |
Using irrelevant feelings of identity rather than evidence to discredit a point of view. |
Ignoring the issue |
Giving evidence, but for a claim different from the question at hand. |
Bad appeal to authority |
Citing an “expert” where the person is: not well identified; not truly an expert; speaking outside his/her field of expertise; not current; not quoted accurately; biased of other not credible; not basing the opinion on open evidence; or using theories and practices not standard in field. |
Hasty generalization |
Generalizing on a sample that is either biased or too small. |
Accident |
Applying a generalization rule to an atypical case. |
False analogy |
Overlooking a major relevant difference between the things compared. |
False cause |
Making a causal claim merely upon the evidence of a temporal or statistical linkage. |
For each, identify the explanation and correct label.
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Question 1 of 40
1. Question
A feather is light. What is light cannot be dark. Therefore, a feather cannot be dark.
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Question 2 of 40
2. Question
What effect do you think the extremists taking over the Republican Party primaries will have on the general election?
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Question 3 of 40
3. Question
Our kitchen staff is outstanding in the efficiency and quality of their production. So if we split them up and them to other restaurants, our chain of restaurants will flourish.
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Question 4 of 40
4. Question
Yes, I do think that all drunk drivers should be severely punished, but your honor, he’s my son! He’s a good kid who just made a mistake.
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Question 5 of 40
5. Question
The person who rejects my conclusion is either an insane bigot or a foul-mouthed slanderer.
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Question 6 of 40
6. Question
Teaching kids sex education is like letting them loose in a candy store!
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Question 7 of 40
7. Question
Politician: Are you tired of being ignored by your own government? Do you think that it is right that the top 1% have so much when the rest of us have so little? No? Then I urge you to vote for me today!
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Question 8 of 40
8. Question
Of course, we have no evidence that the Illuminati exist and control the world’s financial system. This shows how tight their conspiracy is and how shrewd they are: they have covered up all the evidence of their existence.
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Question 9 of 40
9. Question
How many school shootings should we tolerate before we change the gun laws?
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Question 10 of 40
10. Question
I think that Professor Brugger is a hard grader, because he gave my roommate a D last year.
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Question 11 of 40
11. Question
The influx of foreign cars almost destroyed the American auto industry in the 1970s.
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Question 12 of 40
12. Question
We cannot let women join our club because we’ve never let women join in the past. This has been our custom for over the century of our history.
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Question 13 of 40
13. Question
Why do I wear Nike shoes? Because they are what LeBron James wears, and he’s a big NBA star!
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Question 14 of 40
14. Question
But, Dad, I know you smoked when you were my age, so how can you tell me with a straight face not to do it?
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Question 15 of 40
15. Question
Because I forgot to take my lucky quarter with me, someone robbed my house.
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Question 16 of 40
16. Question
Yes, I’m willing to discuss the alleged problem of global warming. But shouldn’t we first discuss what horrible effects cold winters have on poor families, especially the young?
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Question 17 of 40
17. Question
Politician: “My fellow Americans, my opponent wants to give what he calls ‘limited amnesty’ to the immigrants living here illegally. But I tell you I will never accept open borders!
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Question 18 of 40
18. Question
The US is a democracy, isn’t it? So why aren’t children and criminals allowed to vote?
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Question 19 of 40
19. Question
I just got cut off by a guy in a pick-up with Wyoming license plates. Doesn’t that show you what arrogant cowboy jerks Wyoming men are?
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Question 20 of 40
20. Question
Everything in the universe is contingent, that is, could possibly have failed to exist. So the universe itself is contingent as well.
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Question 21 of 40
21. Question
Fred: “I think that some people truly have psychic powers.”
Ted: “What is your proof?”
Fred: “Nobody has been able to show psychic powers don’t exist, right?” -
Question 22 of 40
22. Question
Why do I think everybody has trouble with trigonometry? Well, when I took trig in high school, every single student in class struggled just to pass the tests.
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Question 23 of 40
23. Question
Yesterday, I walked under a ladder with an open umbrella indoors while spilling salt in front of a black cat. That must be why I’m having such a bad day today.
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Question 24 of 40
24. Question
Jill: “I have repeatedly been sexually harassed at my job.”
Employer: “We of course do not tolerate sexual harassment. What is your evidence that this has happened?”
Jill: “I shouldn’t have to provide evidence—no, it is your job to show it didn’t happen.” -
Question 25 of 40
25. Question
McDonald’s has served 99 billion meals, so you should let them serve you too.
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Question 26 of 40
26. Question
Last year saw the highest recorded temperatures in the state of Nevada. That just shows global warming is accelerating.
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Question 27 of 40
27. Question
My opponent claims that because fracking is still a relatively new technology, we should monitor it carefully. But isn’t that just what a socialist would say? That we should shut down the oil industry completely? How insane can you get!
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Question 28 of 40
28. Question
Since ocelots are dying out, my neighbor’s pet ocelot—Honey—must be dying. Poor thing!
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Question 29 of 40
29. Question
(Written on a napkin found in a Waco, Texas bar): “The prophesies written on this napkin are the eternal truths of the napkin religion. That they are really true is shown by the fact that they are written on this napkin, which is the one true religion.”
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Question 30 of 40
30. Question
Feeding our baby more milk is like feeding a crack addict more cocaine! Don’t you see that you are enabling an addiction?
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Question 31 of 40
31. Question
I don’t want to hear John’s opinion on global warming. He’s a total environmentalist wacko, a tree-hugger to the max!
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Question 32 of 40
32. Question
When will you finally just grow up? I mean, you can’t continue to live your life as if you were a complete child, right?
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Question 33 of 40
33. Question
Every time Joe goes swimming he is wearing his speedos. Something about wearing those silly shorts must make him want to go swimming.
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Question 34 of 40
34. Question
I am opposed to taxes which slow economic growth. I have always held this position.
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Question 35 of 40
35. Question
Someone really should move this “Deer Crossing” sign. This is a dangerous stretch of highway where a lot of deer get hit by cars, and the deer really should be crossing somewhere else.
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Question 36 of 40
36. Question
Every course I took in college was well-organized. Therefore, my college education was well-organized.
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Question 37 of 40
37. Question
Sam: “The reason I say that God doesn’t exist is simple: if an all-good, all powerful God exists, evil would not exist. But evil exists, clearly.”
Luisa: “Sam you are just rehashing the stale old Argument from Evil, and that’s just silly nonsense.” -
Question 38 of 40
38. Question
Ad: “ONCE IN A LIFETIME SALE!!!! Our 65” flat screen TVs will be priced as low as $399 today only!!*
*only 2 units available at this price.” -
Question 39 of 40
39. Question
Susie: “Mom, what would happen if I didn’t believe in God?”
Mom: “Then He would send you straight to Hell, where you would burn forever in a pit of sulfurous fire, screaming in pain! Why do you ask?”
Susie (ashen-faced): “Oh, just wondering….” -
Question 40 of 40
40. Question
Student to teacher: “I really think that you should reconsider that C you gave me on my latest paper. By the way, did you know that my family is the biggest donor to this school?”