Question 1

If a person accepts a claim on the say-so of an alleged witness or authority and there is good reason to believe that the alleged witness or authority is biased, then the person commits the fallacy of inappropriate appeal to authority.

Accepted Answer

Accepting a claim based solely on the testimony of a biased witness or authority, without considering the bias, is an example of the fallacy of inappropriate appeal to authority, as it undermines the credibility and reliability of the information.

Question 2

"Donald Trump said that the researchers he paid to investigate whether or not President Obama was born in the United States are finding some very interesting things. I guess the so-called president isn't really a United States citizen." This statement illustrates the fallacy of inappropriate appeal to authority. Identify the most relevant reason for the fallacy.

Accepted Answer

The statement illustrates the fallacy of inappropriate appeal to authority because the source (Donald Trump, in this context) is biased, which undermines the credibility of the information.

Question 3

"I think the moon landing was a hoax. Do you know of any proof it wasn't?" Identify the fallacy that applies to this example.

Accepted Answer

The fallacy of appeal to ignorance occurs when one argues that a lack of evidence proves something true or false. In this case, the speaker suggests that because the listener may not know of proof that the moon landing happened, it might be a hoax.

Question 4

"A couple of weeks ago, I received a chain letter that said bad luck would come my way if I did not send the letter to at least 10 people I knew. I mumbled something about superstitious nonsense and threw the letter away. Bad move! The very next day I was attacked by a Rottweiler, got dumped by my girlfriend, and was fired from my job. Once is enough. You can bet that next time I get a chain letter, I will do exactly what it says." Identify the fallacy that applies to this example.

Accepted Answer

The questionable cause fallacy is present because the speaker assumes a causal relationship between not forwarding the chain letter and experiencing bad events without sufficient evidence to support such a cause-and-effect connection.

Question 5

"This purse is black. So, all the contents in this purse must be black." Identify the fallacy that applies to this example.

Accepted Answer

The fallacy of division assumes what is true of a whole must also be true of its parts. In this example, the assumption that because the purse is black, everything inside must also be black, is a classic example of the fallacy of division.

Question 6

The following argument commits the fallacy of false alternatives: "On my 21st birthday, I can either get drunk or smoke crack. I don't like drinking, so I guess I'll have to smoke crack."

Accepted Answer

The argument presents only two extreme options as if they are the only possibilities, ignoring other healthier or more reasonable choices, which is characteristic of the false alternatives fallacy.

Question 7

"Professor Gene Poole, the distinguished microbiologist, has argued that using animals in medical and scientific experiments is morally wrong. Given Professor Poole's impressive credentials, we should conclude that using animals in medical and scientific experiments is morally wrong." Identify the fallacy that applies to this example.

Accepted Answer

The argument commits the fallacy of inappropriate appeal to authority by suggesting that the moral wrongness of using animals in experiments is true simply because an authority figure (Professor Gene Poole) believes it to be so, without presenting substantive evidence or reasoning to support the claim.

Question 8

If an arguer asks a question that contains an assumption, then he commits the fallacy of loaded question, even if the assumption is entirely reasonable.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If an arguer asks a question that...

Question 9

Any argument that has a generalization as a conclusion is fallacious.

Accepted Answer

Not all arguments that conclude with a generalization are fallacious; it depends on the strength of the evidence or premises leading to the generalization. A well-supported generalization can be a valid conclusion in inductive reasoning.

Question 10

"Last night, Jen went into a house that everyone said is haunted. Last evening, she had consumed a few beers and had watched a scary movie. When she entered the house, it was really dark and there was thunder and lightning outside. Jen was certain that she saw something spooky in the master bedroom of that house. I'm sure that the house is haunted." This statement illustrates the fallacy of inappropriate appeal to authority. Identify the most relevant reason for the fallacy.

Accepted Answer

The accuracy of Jen's observation is questionable due to her state (having consumed beers and watched a scary movie) and the conditions (darkness, thunder, and lightning), which could impair her judgment or perception, making her a less reliable source for claiming the house is haunted.

Quiz 6: Logical Fallaciesii