Exam 5: Logical Fallacies--1

Changing the subject is always fallacious.

Consider the following argument: "Dipsy O'Neill has recently argued that drinking a little red wine with dinner is good for one's health. But no one should accept O'Neill's argument. O'Neill, as you know, is the owner of O'Neill's Wines and Spirits. Naturally she'd love to see people buy more wine." What fallacy does this argument commit?

Although arguments that beg the question are logically valid, they are nonetheless fallacious.

In the red herring fallacy, a key term is used in two or different senses in the same argument.

The following commits the bandwagon fallacy: Millions of people think that Uri Geller really is a psychic. He must really have psychic powers.

Consider the following argument: "I'm sure you're all aware that Paula Zapperstein has argued that we need a new school gymnasium. What you may not be aware of is that Ms. Zapperstein is a convicted drug dealer. Clearly, Ms. Zapperstein's argument should be consigned to the trash bin." What fallacy does this argument commit?

Consider the following argument: "President Obama, in his State of the Union address, said the nation would benefit if everyone had at least one year of post high school education, whether it be college, a trade school, or an apprenticeship. It's too bad that he's an elitist snob, who doesn't appreciate the hard work of those who don't have a college education, and who wants everyone to go to college so they can be brainwashed to think like him." What fallacy does this argument commit?

The following commits the fallacy of straw man: The glass is half empty because it's half full.

Emotional appeals are always fallacies.

A fallacy is an argument that contains a mistake in reasoning.

If the premise of an argument simply restates the conclusion in slightly different words, the argument commits the fallacy of begging the question.

Consider the following argument: "In a recent judicial decision, District Court Judge Lemuel Featherstone argued that bazookas and flamethrowers are not protected by the Second Amendment. Apparently, Judge Featherstone believes that the U.S. Constitution is obsolete and should be repealed by judicial fiat. But the rights protected in the Constitution lie at the very core of America's values and traditions. All true Americans must hope that Judge Featherstone's ruling is swiftly overturned." What fallacy does this argument commit?

The __________ fallacy occurs when an arguer appeals to a person's desire to be popular, accepted, or valued, rather than to logically relevant reasons or evidence.

Some personal attacks are not fallacious.

An argument is fallacious if it: