Question 1

The proposal to ban smoking in the workplace is a terrible idea. Consider the plight of the poor smokers. Just to get a puff, they'll have to go outside, where they'll face the icy blasts of winter, torrential rains in the spring, and the blazing sun in summer. Nobody should ever be subjected to such torture.
A) Missing the point.
B) Appeal to force.
C) False cause.
D) No fallacy.
E) Appeal to pity.

Accepted Answer

The argument is using an appeal to pity by painting a picture of smokers suffering through harsh weather conditions to get their nicotine fix. It's trying to elicit sympathy for the smokers, rather than engaging with the actual issue of the harmful effects of smoking in the workplace.

Question 2

Cynthia, you know a lot about geography. Tell me. Does Zambia share a border with the Congo?
A) No fallacy.
B) Begging the question.
C) Division.
D) Complex question.
E) Missing the point.

Accepted Answer

This is a straightforward question about geography and whether two countries share a border. It does not contain any fallacies or assumptions. The correct answer is therefore A) No fallacy.

Question 3

Sugar is sweet. Therefore, its chemical components, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, are sweet.
A) Missing the point.
B) False cause.
C) Division.
D) No fallacy.
E) Composition.

Accepted Answer

The fallacy of division is assuming that what is true of the whole must also be true of its parts. In this case, assuming the chemical components of sugar must be sweet because sugar is sweet is an example of this fallacy.

Question 4

Some individuals with political aspirations are incompetent bozos. Therefore, some incompetent bozos are individuals with political aspirations.
A) Amphiboly.
B) Weak analogy.
C) Begging the question.
D) No fallacy.
E) Argument against the person, abusive.

Accepted Answer

This is a valid and logical statement that does not contain any fallacy. It simply provides a conclusion based on a logical premise.

Question 5

Philosopher Peter Singer argues for the right to kill handicapped newborn babies. But Singer is a disgusting irreligious crypto Nazi who is sometimes described as the most dangerous man in the world today. Obviously his arguments are nonsense.
A) Missing the point.
B) Argument against the person, abusive.
C) No fallacy.
D) Red herring.
E) Appeal to unqualified authority.

Accepted Answer

The statement is attacking Singer's character instead of addressing his argument, which is an ad hominem and abusive fallacy. This does not provide a valid counterargument to Singer's claims.

Question 6

Senator Carter, I'm sure you will be happy to cast the deciding vote for our request to drill for oil in the Big Glacier wilderness area. After all, we know your wife is a double agent for the CIA, and I'm sure you wouldn't want her identity made known to certain foreign governments.
A) No fallacy.
B) Appeal to force.
C) Argument against the person, circumstantial.
D) Straw man.
E) Appeal to pity.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of an appeal to force, where the speaker is attempting to coerce Senator Carter into voting a certain way by threatening to expose his wife's identity as a CIA agent.

Question 7

SureShotJoe, who posts regularly on the Yahoo message boards, says that the stock of Super Tech should triple this year. Referring to Super Tech, he writes, "there stock shood goe throo the roof!" We can only conclude that Super Tech offers a great investment opportunity.
A) Appeal to unqualified authority.
B) Straw man.
C) Argument against the person, abusive.
D) Red herring.
E) No fallacy.

Accepted Answer

SureShotJoe is portrayed as an expert on Super Tech without any evidence to support his knowledge or credentials. This is an example of the fallacy of appeal to unqualified authority.

Question 8

Professor Wilson argues that it is absolutely wrong for students to plagiarize their work. But who is she to talk? I have it on good evidence that Wilson plagiarized her own work when she was a student.
A) No fallacy.
B) Appeal to unqualified authority.
C) Straw man.
D) You, too (tu quoque).
E) Argument against the person, abusive.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of the tu quoque fallacy, also known as the "you, too" fallacy, where someone attempts to deflect criticism by pointing out that their accuser is guilty of the same thing. Just because Professor Wilson may have plagiarized in the past does not make it acceptable for current students to do so.

Question 9

Yes, I know it's been made legal, but this idea of same-sex marriage is an abomination! The Holy Bible says that marriage is between a man and a woman. This sacred rule is engraved in the order of nature by almighty God! Who are these perverts who would undermine the sanctity of holy wedlock? Down with the gays! Away with the femiNazis!
A) Appeal to unqualified authority.
B) Suppressed evidence.
C) Argument against the person, abusive.
D) No fallacy.
E) Appeal to the people.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Yes, I know it's been made legal,...

Question 10

A few days after Margi joined the Democratic Party she broke her foot and lost her job. Therefore, it's important that you never join up with the Democrats.
A) No fallacy.
B) Slippery slope.
C) False cause.
D) Appeal to the people.
E) Hasty generalization.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of false cause fallacy, where the assumption is made that joining the Democratic Party caused Margi to break her foot and lose her job, without any evidence to support the claim.

Question 11

Richard has been doing very poorly in biology this term. Therefore, he should schedule an appointment with the professor so he can criticize and berate her teaching ability.
A) Appeal to unqualified authority.
B) No fallacy.
C) Straw man.
D) Missing the point.
E) Argument against the person, abusive.

Accepted Answer

The conclusion that Richard should criticize and berate his professor's teaching ability misses the point of his poor performance, which could be addressed in more constructive ways than attacking the professor.

Question 12

Every member of the drill team marches very well. Therefore, the drill team marches very well.
A) Composition.
B) False cause.
C) Hasty generalization.
D) No fallacy.
E) Division.

Accepted Answer

This is the composition fallacy, where the belief that the whole (drill team) shares the property of its individual parts (members) is assumed to be true without adequate evidence.

Question 13

Rachel could not possibly have painted this beautiful landscape scene. Rachel is so inept she doesn't even know which end of the brush goes in the paint. And she hasn't a shred of ability when it comes to color or design.
A) No fallacy.
B) False cause.
C) Argument against the person, abusive.
D) Composition.
E) Argument against the person, circumstantial.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rachel could not possibly have painted this...

Question 14

During the past 100 years the average minimum wage in the U.S. has been less than $3 per hour. Therefore, during the next 100 years the average minimum wage in the U.S. will be less than $3 per hour.
A) Appeal to ignorance.
B) No fallacy.
C) Accident.
D) Suppressed evidence.
E) Red herring.

Accepted Answer

The argument fails to consider factors that could change the future minimum wage, such as inflation, economic growth, and legislative changes, which could lead to an increase in the minimum wage. This omission of relevant information is why "Suppressed evidence" is the correct choice.

Question 15

If media pundits accept bribes, then all credibility will vanish. If media pundits accept bribes, then national cynicism will grow. Thus, if all credibility vanishes, then national cynicism will grow.
A) This argument contains no fallacy.
B) This argument contains a fallacy of relevance.
C) This argument contains a formal fallacy.
D) This argument contains a fallacy of ambiguity.
E) This argument contains a fallacy of illicit transference.

Accepted Answer

This argument contains a formal fallacy of affirming the consequent. The argument is structured as a conditional statement, but the conclusion simply restates the consequent without providing any new evidence to establish the truth of the antecedent. The argument is therefore invalid.

Question 16

The use of marijuana for medical purposes should never be allowed. Before long it will be marijuana for anyone who wants it. Then it will be hash, cocaine, and crack. In no time they'll want crystal, ecstasy, and heroin. In the end everyone will be so drugged out they won't be able to see straight.
A) Appeal to force.
B) No fallacy.
C) Begging the question.
D) False cause.
E) Slippery slope.

Accepted Answer

The argument presents a slippery slope fallacy by suggesting that allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes will inevitably lead to the legalization of harder drugs and widespread drug abuse. However, there is no logical connection between legalizing marijuana for medical purposes and the legalization of other drugs, nor is there evidence to support the claim that people will become so "drugged out" that they cannot function.

Question 17

After returning from a month-long vacation, Robert turned the key in his usually reliable Camry, but nothing happened. The car must have a dead battery.
A) Accident.
B) No fallacy.
C) False cause.
D) Composition.
E) Appeal to ignorance.

Accepted Answer

Robert's conclusion that his car has a dead battery is a reasonable inference based on the common knowledge that cars that have not been started for a long period can have their batteries drained, leading to the car not starting. This is not a fallacy but a logical deduction based on experience and common automotive issues.

Question 18

Nobody has ever proved that pornography results in increased incidents of rape and child abuse. Thus, we can only conclude that pornography has no effect on the crime rate.
A) False dichotomy.
B) Appeal to ignorance.
C) No fallacy.
D) Hasty generalization.
E) Appeal to unqualified authority.

Accepted Answer

The argument is based on the lack of proof and assumes that there is no relationship between pornography and crime. However, the lack of evidence does not necessarily mean that there is no causal relationship. This is an example of the fallacy of appeal to ignorance, which occurs when someone claims that something is true or false simply because there is no evidence to support the opposite conclusion.

Question 19

This one-liter glass vial contains a 3 percent solution of sulfuric acid. Therefore, every cubic centimeter of its contents is a 3 percent solution of sulfuric acid.
A) No fallacy.
B) Suppressed evidence.
C) Division.
D) Hasty generalization.
E) Composition.

Accepted Answer

The argument correctly applies the property of the whole (the vial) to its parts (each cubic centimeter), as a solution's concentration is uniform throughout.

Question 20

The death penalty is clearly immoral. This is so because life is intrinsically valuable. And this follows from the fact that human beings are ends in themselves. And we know this is true because human beings have a right not to be killed-which follows from the fact that the state has no right to take human life. And why is this true? Because the death penalty is clearly immoral.
A) False cause.
B) Slippery slope.
C) Begging the question.
D) No fallacy.
E) Equivocation.

Accepted Answer

The argument is circular, as it assumes its conclusion (that the death penalty is immoral) in its premise (that human life is intrinsically valuable). This is referred to as begging the question.

Quiz 3: Informal Fallacies

Cynthia, you know a lot about geography. Tell me. Does Zambia share a border with the Congo?

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

Some individuals with political aspirations are incompetent bozos. Therefore, some incompetent bozos are individuals with political aspirations.

Philosopher Peter Singer argues for the right to kill handicapped newborn babies. But Singer is a disgusting irreligious crypto Nazi who is sometimes described as the most dangerous man in the world today. Obviously his arguments are nonsense.

Senator Carter, I'm sure you will be happy to cast the deciding vote for our request to drill for oil in the Big Glacier wilderness area. After all, we know your wife is a double agent for the CIA, and I'm sure you wouldn't want her identity made known to certain foreign governments.

SureShotJoe, who posts regularly on the Yahoo message boards, says that the stock of Super Tech should triple this year. Referring to Super Tech, he writes, "there stock shood goe throo the roof!" We can only conclude that Super Tech offers a great investment opportunity.

Professor Wilson argues that it is absolutely wrong for students to plagiarize their work. But who is she to talk? I have it on good evidence that Wilson plagiarized her own work when she was a student.

A few days after Margi joined the Democratic Party she broke her foot and lost her job. Therefore, it's important that you never join up with the Democrats.

Richard has been doing very poorly in biology this term. Therefore, he should schedule an appointment with the professor so he can criticize and berate her teaching ability.

Every member of the drill team marches very well. Therefore, the drill team marches very well.

Rachel could not possibly have painted this beautiful landscape scene. Rachel is so inept she doesn't even know which end of the brush goes in the paint. And she hasn't a shred of ability when it comes to color or design.

During the past 100 years the average minimum wage in the U.S. has been less than $3 per hour. Therefore, during the next 100 years the average minimum wage in the U.S. will be less than $3 per hour.

If media pundits accept bribes, then all credibility will vanish. If media pundits accept bribes, then national cynicism will grow. Thus, if all credibility vanishes, then national cynicism will grow.

The use of marijuana for medical purposes should never be allowed. Before long it will be marijuana for anyone who wants it. Then it will be hash, cocaine, and crack. In no time they'll want crystal, ecstasy, and heroin. In the end everyone will be so drugged out they won't be able to see straight.

After returning from a month-long vacation, Robert turned the key in his usually reliable Camry, but nothing happened. The car must have a dead battery.

Nobody has ever proved that pornography results in increased incidents of rape and child abuse. Thus, we can only conclude that pornography has no effect on the crime rate.

This one-liter glass vial contains a 3 percent solution of sulfuric acid. Therefore, every cubic centimeter of its contents is a 3 percent solution of sulfuric acid.