Exam 3: Informal Fallacies

Mr. Fuller, who is running for the U.S. Senate, was seriously wounded during the last war. Therefore, it is certain that he would make a great senator.

Nobody has ever heard a monkey talk. Therefore, probably monkeys don't talk.

Members of the jury, surely defendant Jones is not guilty of kidnapping the little girl. Jones loves children dearly, and during the first ten years of his marriage he prayed every day for a child. Finally, his wife gave birth to a little boy, but then she and the boy were killed in a car accident.

This brick made of 24 caret gold has been sliced into 50 pieces. Therefore, each of the pieces must be 24 caret gold.

You shouldn't worry a minute about dropping these tabs of ecstasy. Absolutely everyone who is the least bit cool is doing it.

Which of the following is presented as a factor leading to the commission of informal fallacies?

Members of the jury, surely you will not find Dr. Costello liable for amputating the wrong leg of his patient. During four years of medical school this poor man groped and struggled just to get by. Unlike his fellow students, he had no rich parents to pay his way. And during residency he was forced to work 16-hour days, rising before dawn and slaving away long after sunset. And now this lawsuit. Nobody deserves to be treated this way.

Ted argues that CEOs should be prevented from selling stock they own in their own companies for ten years. But did you hear that Ted recently broke up with his girlfriend? They carried on a torrid affair for two years, and when she got pregnant, he dumped her. Enough of that. Let's move on to something important.

Sugar is sweet. Therefore, its chemical components, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, are sweet.

Which of the following statements involves the collective predication of an attribute?

Carol's arguments against abortion aren't worth a hoot. I have it on good evidence that Carol got an abortion herself after a high school sweetheart got her pregnant.

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.

Stem cell research is clearly immoral because any activity that destroys human beings is immoral.

I can see that you don't want to adopt this little kitten. Why are you so heartless?

Professor Carroll, of course you agree that all of us deserve an excellent grade in this class. Because if you don't, you'll get rotten evaluations at the end of the semester, and as a result, you may be denied tenure.

Ferguson's argument in favor of deregulating the banking system isn't worth a hoot. Consider this: Ferguson is a banker himself, and if banks are deregulated, he will earn millions.

This custard pudding is sweet. Therefore, every spoonful of this custard pudding is sweet.

Given the argument, "All cats are animals, and some animals are mammals; thus, some cats are mammals." This argument:

Ferguson has directed the college orchestra for the past 8 years, and during that time 5 women players have gotten pregnant. Therefore, to prevent any more pregnancies, Ferguson should be fired immediately.

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!