Exam 3: Informal Fallacies

Can you believe that some parents want to control their kids' access to the Internet? Who are these autocrats who insist on imposing their views on others? This country was born in a spirit of freedom and self determination. Countless patriots have died to preserve our sacred values. We must cherish those values! We must nurture them in our children! End all mind control now and forever!

During the past 200 years nobody has ever been cured of Lou Gehrig's disease. Therefore, nobody will be cured of Lou Gehrig's disease in the next 200 years.

Either you enlist in the Marine Corps or you'll be a baby for the rest of your life. The choice is yours.

A fallacy that can be detected through mere inspection of the form of an argument is:

Dr. Niels Langer, the universally recognized climatologist, says that global warming is an extremely important problem that must be addressed immediately. Therefore, we should take him at his word and get to work on solving this problem right now.

The first rule of good behavior is always be yourself. Therefore, professional actors, who adopt the role of someone other than themselves, are behaving improperly.

If cleaner cars are produced, then there will be fewer greenhouse gasses. There will be fewer greenhouse gasses. Therefore, cleaner cars will be produced.

Judge, surely I'm not obligated to pay $250,000 in back taxes. If you were to decide against me, it would really put a crimp in my finances. I wouldn't be able to afford that new BMW, and my social status in our upscale neighborhood will drop like a rock.

Jessica has played 8 games of Bingo without winning a single game. Therefore, her chances are much better for winning the next game.

This cup of coffee contains caffeine. Therefore, every spoonful of it contains caffeine.

Aspirin is a drug that relieves pain, and it is appropriately purchased over the counter. Morphine, like aspirin, is a drug that relieves pain. Therefore, it would be appropriate that morphine be available over the counter.

Hugo lost an arm in a car accident last year. But surely he will get it back. Most things that are lost turn up sooner or later.

Dr. Sylvia Newman, the world famous biochemist, says that the widespread use of pesticides poses a serious threat to public health. Therefore, we should take this warning seriously and investigate further the extent of the threat.

In a random sample of 300 current year Honda Civic Hybrids, 100 had a defect in the fuel injection system. Therefore, probably about a third of that entire production run has a defect in the fuel injection system.

Every hair on Tony's head will fall out within five years. Therefore, Tony will be bald within five years.

This cherry pie is delicious. Therefore, every ingredient in this pie is delicious.

Whatever you do, never buy a lottery ticket. If you do, soon you'll be betting on horses. Next it will be slot machines in Las Vegas, and then black jack and high stakes poker. In the end you'll be totally broke.

It would not be a good idea to hire Mr. Larson as a bus driver for the school district. Larson has huge cataracts in both eyes, and he hates children.

Irene will certainly live to a ripe old age because a palm reader told her that earlier today.

Twenty percent of the women attending Ponderosa College are beautiful. Since Charlotte attends Ponderosa College, it follows that twenty percent of her is beautiful.