Exam 3: Informal Fallacies

Either you support the administration's policies or you don't deserve to be called a patriotic American. The choice should be obvious.

Nobody has ever proved there is intelligent life outside our solar system. Therefore, these efforts to communicate with extraterrestrials are ridiculous.

Irving is a wonderful cook. But every cook is a human being. Therefore, Irving is a wonderful human being.

The number of alcoholics has risen steadily for the past 20 years, and so has the number of treatment centers. Therefore, to cut down on alcoholism we should eliminate the treatment centers.

In his testimony to the grand jury, Steve Porter said that the CEO of the Syntex Corporation conspired with the CFO to defraud investors. Therefore, since Porter is in a position to know and has no reason to lie, we can conclude that these officers did indeed engage in such a conspiracy.

A fallacy that can be detected by merely examining the form of an argument is:

The outsourcing of jobs by American companies is clearly beneficial. These jobs go to people in India and Southeast Asia where good jobs are scarce.

The Contract Clause of the Constitution gives everyone the right to enter into contracts. Therefore, it should be legal to hire a hit man to bump off that guy who's been pestering you.

Every thread in this shirt is pure silk. Therefore, this shirt is pure silk.

No fish are mammals. Therefore, no mammals are fish.

It would be a mistake to provide new gloves to the school's baseball players. In no time the football players will want new equipment. Then the tennis players will want new courts, the hockey players will want a new arena, the swimmers will want a new pool, and the golfers will want their own special course. The costs for these facilities will go through the roof.

Professor Wilson argues that it is absolutely wrong for students to plagiarize their work. But who is she to talk? I have it on good evidence that Wilson plagiarized her own work when she was a student.

Collins is a terrible pool player. But every pool player is a human being. Therefore, Collins is a terrible human being.

Tricia is coughing and sneezing, and her head is all stuffed up. Tricia must have a cold.

This unopened can of iced tea contains lemon juice. Therefore, every single spoonful of it contains lemon juice.

Same-sex marriage should never be allowed in this state. If we allow gays to marry each other, then in no time uncles will marry their nephews and nieces. Then fathers will marry their daughters, mothers will marry their sons, and brothers will marry their sisters. Before long, pet owners will marry their dogs and cats, and this will lead to the complete destruction of civilized life.

My dear, you shouldn't hesitate a minute before buying a new mink coat. Real fur is in right now, and a full mink is the ultimate in fashion. It tells the whole world that you have exquisite taste and the financial means to express it.

The song "I lost My Love in Nashville" is very sad. But every song is composed of notes. Therefore, every note in that song is very sad.

In testimony to the court, Harold Geyser, President of the American Accounting Society, said that the CFO of the Abracadabra Corporation falsified the corporation's financial statements. Therefore, members of the jury, you must conclude that the CFO did indeed falsify these statements.

Shortly after retiring from his job, Mr. Lopez had a heart attack and died. The same thing happened to Mrs. Harris. I think the message is clear: Whatever you do, never retire from your job.