Module 2: Identifying Fallacy

Question 1

Fallacy

Answer 1

• error in reasoning due to misconception/presumption

- though unintentional, can win arguments

Question 2

Begging the Question

Answer 2

• circularity
• premises state conclusion or presupposes the conclusion is true
  Equivalency:
• one of the premise asserts a proposition equivalent to conclusion
  Dependency:
• conclusion and premise are mutually dependent

Question 3

False Dilemma Fallacy (B/W)

Answer 3

• when listing choices (usually 2) as if there are no more options
• “either u with me or them”
• false dichotomy

Question 4

Fallacy of Equivocation

Answer 4

• keywords used in conclusion has different meaning than the one used in the premise
• ambiguity of meaning

Question 5

Fallacious Appeal to Emotion

Answer 5

• supporting conclusion by engaging audience’s feelings rather than their reason

Question 6

Fallacious Appeal to Fear

Answer 6

• Argumentum ad Baculum
• threats
• either conclusion otherwise bad stuff will happen

Question 7

Fallacious Appeal to Pity

Answer 7

• Argumentum ad Miscericordian
• feel pity with implications that a conclusion is to be accepted cus someone is in a desperate state
• “should give me a pass otherwise I fail the course”

Question 8

Strawman Fallacy

Answer 8

• by critics when replying
• distorts position of an opponent, representing it as weaker than it is
• target is a straw man

Question 9

Argumentum ad Hominem “Against the Person Fallacy”

Answer 9

• 4 types
• by critics when replying
  1) Abusive ad Hominem
  2) Circumstantial ad Hominem
  3) Tu Quotue (You Too)
  4) Guilt by Association

Question 10

Abusive ad Hominem

Answer 10

• atks personal char traits instead of argument

- “you a jerk, i don’t believe you”

Question 11

Circumstantial ad Hominem

Answer 11

• atks arguer’s background situation of life circumstances

- “you work for food company though so ofc you say killing animal for food is bad”

Question 12

Tu Quotue

Answer 12

• rejecting argument cus person advancing it fails to practice what he/she preaches
• atk on person based on perceived defect in arguer (fault/shortcoming)
• “you say killing animal for food is bad but you eat meat though”

Question 13

Guilt by Association

Answer 13

• when someone connects an opponent to a demonized group of people or to a bad person in order to discredit his or her argument

Question 14

I wouldn’t pay any close attention to those arguments saying that people without a religion are incapable of leading moral lives

Answer 14

• opinion

- no argument at all

Question 15

I’ve been putting in a lot of overtime, and I’m tired. Furthermore, there are problems in my family and I have to take care of my brother’s children for the next two weeks. I tend to get migraine headaches. Life has been really difficult lately and I’m in bad shape. I need and deserve that early vacation.

Answer 15

• Argument
• Fallacious Appeal to Pity
• premises about the problems the arguer has are not relevant to his/her conclusion, which states that he/she deserves an early vacation

Question 16

Everyone worships something- whether it’s a supernatural being, or humanity itself, or success, or knowledge, or whatever. Even logic is worshipped by some people. So, if I want to subscribe to a form of paganism, no one is entitled to find anything wrong with that.

Answer 16

• Argument
• conclusion is that no one is entitled to criticize a person who adheres to a form of paganism
• implicit suggestion that those who worship something cannot criticize the arguer’s choice of worship
• Tu quoque

Question 17

If you persist in badgering my daughter and aliening her from me, I am going to tell her about the trouble you were in before, and more than that, I am going to put an end to our relationship.

Answer 17

• Argument
• Fallacious appeal to fear/force
• threats and intimidation used rather than reasoned persuasion
• pressure someone into a particular course of action

Question 18

Some say that we should let dictators do what they want, without action or reaction, even if they develop weapons of mass destruction and put the world on the path of nuclear war. Well, I’m not one of those people. I say no to despots and maniacs. We do not live in a country that bows down to dictators, and nor do I.

Answer 18

• Argument
• Strawman fallacy ‘-‘)b
• since no identified person in mainstream political debate has ever endorsed the idea that dictators should be left alone, even as they “put world on the path of nuclear war”

Question 19

Sugar is an essential component of the body and a key ingredient in all sorts of metabolic processes. So don’t feel guilty about having that extra slice of cake; your body needs it.

Answer 19

• Argument
• Fallacy of Equivocation
• arguer equivocates on the word “sugar”
• glucose (blood sugar) is different from “table sugar” (sucrose)

Question 20

The only reason everyone wants the new “Baby Yoda” doll is because this is the hottest toy of the season.

Answer 20

• Argument
• Begging the Question
• “Everyone wanting the toy” = “hot”
• the reason given is no reason at all
• arguer simply rewords conclusion and attempts to present this reiteration as independent evidence

Question 21

Hers is delicate, fragile beauty; her face is in motion as are her fine, nervous hands with which she mixes up the bangs on her forehead so that one cannot tell if they are blonde or grey. Her eyes are the colour of blue and black hematite; a mouth resembling a sweet pea is a bit pursed, ready to either laugh or cry.

Answer 21

• No argument

- Description

Question 22

The evidence for the dangers of vaccines is quite strong and still mounting. And given the current state of this evidence, you will either be an anti-vaxxer, one who truly cares for children, or you will add your voice to the profane protests of those who mindlessly follow blind science, and willfully ignore the best interests of our children.

Answer 22

• emotionally charged language, distractive language: “profane protests” “mindlessly follow” “blind science” “willfully ignore”
• abusive ad hominin: “profane protests” “mindlessly follow”
• strawman fallacy: describing opponents as “willfully” ignoring the interests of children, since vaccine advocates have never endorsed or encouraged such an attitude
• false dichotomy: one can only be “pro-vaxxer” or “anti-vaxxer”

Question 23

Sabbo Reef, a 13th century mathematician, argued that it is impossible for a thing to have no edges and still be finite. This is incorrect. To understand how something could be finite but have no edges, think of fabric of the universe as the surface of a balloon. As the balloon inflates, the surface stretches and every point on that surface moves away from every other point, but a tiny being on the surface of that balloon could walk forever and never run into the edge of its balloon universe. There is no edge, yet that balloon universe has a finite volume.

Answer 23

• Analogical argument
• likens surface of balloon to an edgeless universe
• no fallacies