Question 1

The fallacy of begging the question is committed when an arguer states or assumes as a premise the very thing he or she is trying to prove as a conclusion.

Accepted Answer

Begging the question is a logical fallacy where the argument's premise assumes the truth of the conclusion, instead of supporting it.

Question 2

Consider the following argument: "Your grandmother has done a lot for you, and now that she is sick, I think you should visit her." Which of the following fallacies has been committed in this argument?
A) There is no fallacy committed in this argument
B) the fallacy of appeal to pity
C) the fallacy of look who's talking
D) the straw man fallacy

Accepted Answer

The argument does not commit a fallacy; it makes a moral or emotional appeal based on the grandmother's past actions and current condition, which is a legitimate form of argument in this context.

Question 3

Distorting your opponent's argument to make it easier to attack is always fallacious.

Accepted Answer

This tactic is known as creating a "straw man," which is a common logical fallacy. It involves misrepresenting an argument to make it easier to refute.

Question 4

Consider these two statements. Statement one: Lou is a Republican, and Republicans usually like small government. Statement two: Lou likes small government. How are these statements relevant to one another?
A) Statement one is logically irrelevant to statement two.
B) Statement one is negatively relevant to statement two.
C) None of the answers are correct.
D) Statement one is positively relevant to statement two.

Accepted Answer

Statement one provides a premise (Lou is a Republican, and Republicans usually like small government) that supports the conclusion in statement two (Lou likes small government), making it positively relevant as it increases the likelihood of statement two being true based on the information given in statement one.

Question 5

Consider the following argument: "President Obama, in his State of the Union address, said that 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." Which of the following fallacies has been committed in this argument?
A) the red herring fallacy
B) the straw man fallacy
C) None of the answers are correct
D) a bandwagon argument

Accepted Answer

The argument misrepresents President Obama's position by suggesting he wants everyone to go to college and be brainwashed, which is a distortion of his actual statement about post-high school education. This is a classic example of the straw man fallacy, where the opponent's position is misrepresented to be easily attacked.

Question 6

Statement A is negatively relevant to Statement B if Statement A provides no evidence for Statement B.

Accepted Answer

Negatively relevant means that Statement A, if true, would decrease the likelihood or credibility of Statement B, not merely fail to provide evidence for it.

Question 7

The fact that someone else did something wrong can never justify you doing something wrong.

Accepted Answer

Moral and ethical standards are individual responsibilities, and the wrongful actions of others do not excuse or justify one's own unethical behavior.

Question 8

Consider these two statements. Statement one: Sandra is a billionaire. Statement two: Sandra owns a very small home. How are these statements relevant to one another?
A) Statement one is logically irrelevant to statement two.
B) None of the answers are correct.
C) Statement one is negatively relevant to statement two.
D) Statement one is positively relevant to statement two.

Accepted Answer

Statement one is negatively relevant to statement two because being a billionaire typically implies having significant wealth, which often correlates with owning a larger or more luxurious home, making the fact that Sandra owns a very small home counterintuitive or unexpected.

Question 9

Consider the following argument: "Some people think that the television show South Park has gotten more vulgar over the years. But South Park is hilarious and has great social commentary." Which of the following fallacies has been committed in this argument? A) the fallacy of attacking the motive B) the fallacy of two wrongs make a right C) None of the answers are correct D) the red herring fallacy

Accepted Answer

The argument diverts attention from the claim about vulgarity by focusing on the show's humor and social commentary, which is a red herring fallacy.

Question 10

Consider the following argument: "Christopher Nolan should win the award for the best picture this year. After all, last year, he had a great film and he wasn't even nominated." Which of the following fallacies has been committed in this argument?
A) the fallacy of scare tactics
B) None of the answers are correct
C) the fallacy of appeal to pity
D) the fallacy of two wrongs make a right

Accepted Answer

The argument commits the fallacy of appeal to pity by suggesting that Christopher Nolan should win the award this year because he was unfairly treated last year, appealing to the audience's sympathy rather than providing a logical reason related to the current year's work.

Question 11

Consider the following argument: "Steve told me that I should lose some weight. But he weighs 300 pounds. What a hypocrite!" Which of the following fallacies has been committed in this argument?
A) There is no fallacy committed in this argument
B) the fallacy of look who's talking
C) the fallacy of appeal to pity
D) the fallacy of two wrongs make a right

Accepted Answer

The answer of Consider the following argument: "Steve told me...

Question 12

Consider the following argument: "Legalizing gay marriage is justifiable because it's perfectly legitimate and appropriate that people of the same sex should be legally permitted to marry." Which of the following fallacies has been committed in this argument?
A) the fallacy of begging the question
B) the fallacy of equivocation
C) the straw man fallacy
D) None of the answers are correct

Accepted Answer

The argument commits the fallacy of begging the question because it assumes what it is trying to prove, namely that gay marriage is justifiable, without providing any supporting evidence or reasoning outside of the assumption itself.

Question 13

Consider the following argument: "Sneaker City has accused our company of exploitative labor practices. But Sneaker City's labor practices are much more exploitative than ours are. I happen to know they regularly employ children as young as nine in their overseas factories. Clearly, these accusations are groundless." Which of the following fallacies has been committed in this argument?
A) the red herring fallacy
B) the fallacy of attacking the motive
C) the fallacy of look who's talking
D) None of the answers are correct

Accepted Answer

The argument commits the fallacy of look who's talking (also known as tu quoque) by dismissing the accusations against the company's labor practices by pointing out that Sneaker City, the accuser, engages in even more exploitative practices. This does not address the validity of the accusations themselves but instead attacks the accuser's behavior.

Question 14

Every attack on an arguer's motive is logically fallacious.

Accepted Answer

Not every attack on an arguer's motive is logically fallacious. While ad hominem attacks, which criticize an arguer's motives to undermine their argument, are generally considered fallacious, there are contexts where questioning motives is relevant and can be logically valid, especially if the motive directly affects the credibility or reliability of the argument or evidence presented.

Question 15

Consider the following argument: "Bill said that John's new girlfriend is a fox. Foxes live in the woods. So, John's new girlfriend must live in the woods." Which of the following fallacies has been committed in this argument?
A) None of the answers are correct
B) the straw man fallacy
C) the fallacy of equivocation
D) the fallacy of look who's talking

Accepted Answer

The argument commits the fallacy of equivocation by using the word "fox" in two different senses: first, to describe John's girlfriend as attractive, and second, to refer to the animal that lives in the woods. This misuse of the term creates a misleading conclusion.

Question 16

The following statement exemplifies the appeal to pity fallacy: Of course, you should start Lanny as point guard. His grandmother passed away last week.

Accepted Answer

The statement uses Lanny's personal tragedy to evoke pity and influence the decision, rather than basing it on his skills or qualifications for the position.

Question 17

Changing the subject during an argument is always fallacious.

Accepted Answer

Changing the subject during an argument is not always fallacious; it depends on the context and purpose. If it's done to evade the original issue, it can be a fallacy (red herring). However, changing the subject can be relevant if it introduces important, related information or a valid counterpoint.

Question 18

For one statement to be relevant to another, the statement itself must be true.

Accepted Answer

A statement can be relevant to another regardless of its truth value; relevance pertains to the relationship and context between statements rather than the truth of the statements themselves.

Question 19

The straw man fallacy is committed when an arguer distorts an opponent's argument or claim to make it easier to attack.

Accepted Answer

The straw man fallacy involves misrepresenting an opponent's position to make it weaker and easier to refute than the original argument.

Question 20

The _____ is committed when an arguer tries to sidetrack his or her audience by raising an irrelevant issue and then claiming that the original issue has effectively been settled by the irrelevant diversion.
A) straw man fallacy
B) red herring fallacy
C) fallacy of two wrongs make a right
D) fallacy of attacking the motive

Accepted Answer

The red herring fallacy occurs when an irrelevant topic is introduced to divert the attention from the original issue, falsely suggesting that the initial matter has been resolved.

Quiz 5: Logical Fallaciesi

The fallacy of begging the question is committed when an arguer states or assumes as a premise the very thing he or she is trying to prove as a conclusion.

Consider the following argument: "Your grandmother has done a lot for you, and now that she is sick, I think you should visit her." Which of the following fallacies has been committed in this argument?

Distorting your opponent's argument to make it easier to attack is always fallacious.

Consider these two statements. Statement one: Lou is a Republican, and Republicans usually like small government. Statement two: Lou likes small government. How are these statements relevant to one another?

Statement A is negatively relevant to Statement B if Statement A provides no evidence for Statement B.

The fact that someone else did something wrong can never justify you doing something wrong.

Consider these two statements. Statement one: Sandra is a billionaire. Statement two: Sandra owns a very small home. How are these statements relevant to one another?

Consider the following argument: "Some people think that the television show South Park has gotten more vulgar over the years. But South Park is hilarious and has great social commentary." Which of the following fallacies has been committed in this argument?

Consider the following argument: "Christopher Nolan should win the award for the best picture this year. After all, last year, he had a great film and he wasn't even nominated." Which of the following fallacies has been committed in this argument?

Consider the following argument: "Steve told me that I should lose some weight. But he weighs 300 pounds. What a hypocrite!" Which of the following fallacies has been committed in this argument?

Consider the following argument: "Legalizing gay marriage is justifiable because it's perfectly legitimate and appropriate that people of the same sex should be legally permitted to marry." Which of the following fallacies has been committed in this argument?

Every attack on an arguer's motive is logically fallacious.

Consider the following argument: "Bill said that John's new girlfriend is a fox. Foxes live in the woods. So, John's new girlfriend must live in the woods." Which of the following fallacies has been committed in this argument?

The following statement exemplifies the appeal to pity fallacy: Of course, you should start Lanny as point guard. His grandmother passed away last week.

Changing the subject during an argument is always fallacious.

For one statement to be relevant to another, the statement itself must be true.

The straw man fallacy is committed when an arguer distorts an opponent's argument or claim to make it easier to attack.

The _____ is committed when an arguer tries to sidetrack his or her audience by raising an irrelevant issue and then claiming that the original issue has effectively been settled by the irrelevant diversion.