If someone is a hypochondriac, then that person worries about having diseases that he or she does not have. Lately, Consuela has been worrying about getting a cold although she does not have one. Therefore, Consuela is a hypochondriac. Has a thinking or reasoning error been made in this argument?
A) Yes, in failing to make a basic argument.
B) Yes, in asserting the consequent.
C) No, in asserting the antecedent.
D) Yes, in reasoning from possibility or ignorance.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The error in the argument is "asserting the consequent," which is a logical fallacy. This occurs when the argument assumes that because the outcome (worrying about having a disease) is present, the condition (being a hypochondriac) must also be true, without considering other explanations for the behavior.

If Someone Is a Hypochondriac, Then That Person Worries About