At a school board meeting, Edna tells the board, "Anyone who is against school prayer is against God. And anyone who is against God is for Satan. And anyone who is for Satan shouldn't have a say in how our schools are run." Edna has committed which fallacy?
A) Faulty cause
B) Damning the source
C) Faulty analogy
D) Nolo divertium

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Edna is using the fallacy of damning the source, which involves dismissing an argument based on the person or group making it, rather than the actual content of the argument. In this case, Edna is suggesting that anyone who disagrees with her position on school prayer is aligned with Satan and therefore not worthy of having a say in school policy. This is an ad hominem attack that ignores the actual arguments being made by those who oppose school prayer.

At a School Board Meeting, Edna Tells the Board, "Anyone