Exam 3: Informal Fallacies

Jordan argues against alcohol abuse in fraternities. What a hypocrite! When Jordan was a student he was the biggest binge drinker on campus. His arguments are a joke.

Either Britney Spears is a surgeon or Annette Bening is an astronaut. Therefore, it follows that either Annette Bening is an astronaut or Britney Spears is a surgeon.

Umbrella repair has been a dependable job for most of the past 500 years. Therefore, it should be a dependable job for the next 500 years.

Frank Larsen argues for stricter gun control. It appears that Frank wants to abolish access to guns altogether. But if law-abiding citizens can't own a gun, then they will have no means of defending themselves against criminals. Obviously Frank's argument is no good.

Whoever is vain is hardhearted because if they weren't hardhearted they wouldn't be vain.

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

If U.S. Presidents start more wars, then the U.S. will go broke. If U.S. Presidents start more wars, then every country will boycott U.S. products. Therefore, if every country boycotts U.S. products, then the U.S. will go broke.

A hundred years ago people listened to recorded music on their gramophones. There are very few gramophones around today. Therefore, probably people listen to less recorded music today than they did a hundred years ago.

Nobody has ever seen Paul Carson go to church or participate in any religious activity. Therefore, probably Paul has no formal religious beliefs.

Senator Dawson argues in favor of legalizing marijuana. But did you know that the senator has been married three times? And his last divorce was a real doozie. His wife went on and on about their sex life. Apparently the Senator is no good in bed. Enough about that issue ... . Shall we move on?

The government has no right to spy on its citizens because citizens have a right to privacy. And this is true because such a right is guaranteed by the Constitution-which follows from the fact that our founding fathers recognized the sanctity of individual privacy against the intrusive power of the government. And of course this is true because the government has no right to spy on its citizens.

It's good to exercise 30 minutes per day because it rejuvenates your body. And we know it rejuvenates your body because people who exercise live longer than those who don't. And we know they live longer because people who exercise feel better. And this is true because it's good to exercise 30 minutes per day.

The non causa pro causa variety of the false cause fallacy is committed whenever the arguer:

Whoever fires a gun at another person should be arrested. But those cowboys on the movie set are firing their guns at each other. Thus, those cowboys should be arrested.

During the past two thousand years, no human being has ever set foot on Mars. Therefore, it is unlikely that any human being will set foot on Mars during the next two thousand years.

In a random sample of 200 students from Northern State University, 150 said that they own a smartphone. Therefore, probably at least 50% of the students at Northern State own a smartphone.

People don't have to go to college to make a lot of money. Look at Richard Branson, Chairman of the Virgin Group. He's a billionaire, yet he was a terrible student, and he dropped out of school when he was sixteen.

Bill, I saw you at the party the other night. You were with a beautiful redhead. Level with me, are you still cheating on your wife?

Michelle said she saw a man get run over by a car while standing on her porch. We can only conclude that her porch was severely damaged.

Whatever you do, never accept a date from Ken Bradshaw. The last woman to date Ken broke up with him in just 3 weeks and became a lesbian.