Exam 6: Logical Fallaciesii

"This purse is black. So, all the contents in this purse must be black." Identify the fallacy that applies to this example.

If a person poses a false choice between two options, A and B, then she commits the fallacy of false alternatives, even if she doesn't put forward an argument that includes the false choice.

"Dear Professor Lott: I can't believe you took off points from my papper because it contained multiple spelling errors. You sea, I always spell-check whatever eye right, sew I no my writings contain know spelling errors." Identify the fallacy that applies to this example.

"Donald Trump said that the researchers he paid to investigate whether or not President Obama was born in the United States are finding some very interesting things. I guess the so-called president isn't really a United States citizen." This statement illustrates the fallacy of inappropriate appeal to authority. Identify the most relevant reason for the fallacy.

The fallacy of division occurs when an arguer assumes, without good reason, that what is true of a whole is also true of its parts.

Some claims are so inherently controversial that they cannot be settled by appeals to expert opinion.

"That ultraconservative, fundamentalist, religious, creationist website said that there is no good evidence for evolution. Therefore, evolution must be false." This statement illustrates the fallacy of inappropriate appeal to authority. Identify the most relevant reason for the fallacy.

A lack of evidence for something is never a reason to think that it is false.

"Ninety-year-old Bill Tucker has asked to be released from prison because he is old, infirm, and dying of brain cancer. Unfortunately, Mr. Tucker's request will have to be denied. If we release Mr. Tucker, we would have to release prisoners that are even less deserving than he is. Eventually, any prisoner with a stomach ache or a stubbed toe could successfully petition for early release." Identify the fallacy that applies to this example.

The following argument commits the fallacy of appeal to ignorance: "No one has ever seen Billie Jenkins ride his bike to school. So, probably Billy Jenkins rarely, if ever, rides his bike to school."

Any argument that has a generalization as a conclusion is fallacious.

"Green tea is leafy, green, and aromatic. It tastes great as a cold or hot beverage. Marijuana is also leafy, green, and aromatic. Therefore, marijuana should taste great as a cold or hot beverage, too." Identify the fallacy that applies to this example.

"Janet is a girl, and she plays softball. Julie is a girl. I bet Julie plays softball, too." Identify the fallacy that applies to this example.

A hasty generalization is committed when an arguer draws a general conclusion from a sample that is biased or too small.

The following statement is a generalization: "Most Americans are concerned about the environment."

The fallacy of inappropriate appeal to authority is committed when an arguer cites a witness or an authority who, there is good reason to believe, is unreliable.

"No one objects to a lawyer looking up a legal case during a trial. Why should students not be permitted to look up an answer during an exam?" Identify the fallacy that applies to this example.

" Herbie: Are you still reading that wacky New Age magazine? Alice: Yes. Herbie: Well, at least you admit it's wacky." Identify the fallacy that applies to this example.

"Every time I've gone to the concession stand for a beer, our basketball team has gone on a scoring streak. There are two minutes to go, and the team is trailing by six. I guess it's about time for a beer." Identify the fallacy that applies to this example.

The fact that two things are correlated is never a good indication that they are causally related.