Question 1

The Burden of Proof always falls on the person making the claim.

Accepted Answer

In both legal and informal contexts, the burden of proof typically lies with the person who is making a claim or assertion, as it is their responsibility to provide evidence or arguments to support their claim.

Question 2

One should always assume guilt until innocence is proven.

Accepted Answer

The principle of "innocent until proven guilty" is a fundamental concept in many legal systems, ensuring that a person is considered innocent unless proven otherwise through due legal process.

Question 3

Appeal to Ignorance is to openly declare that one does not know.

Accepted Answer

Appeal to Ignorance is a logical fallacy that occurs when one argues that something is true because it has not been proven false, or vice versa.

Question 4

Ambiguity occurs naturally in language.

Accepted Answer

Ambiguity in language arises because words and sentences can have multiple meanings, interpretations, or nuances, depending on the context in which they are used.

Question 5

Quine's Gavagai supports the claim of untranslatability.

Accepted Answer

Quine's Gavagai example illustrates the indeterminacy of translation, suggesting that words or sentences in one language may not have exact equivalents in another language, supporting the claim of untranslatability.

Question 6

An appeal to authority is always fallacious.

Accepted Answer

An appeal to authority is not always fallacious; it depends on the context and the authority being cited. If the authority is genuinely expert and the context is relevant to their area of expertise, then citing them can be a valid form of argumentation.

Question 7

A complex question asks two or more questions in the guise of one.

Accepted Answer

A complex question, often referred to as a loaded question, combines multiple questions into one, making it difficult to answer directly without addressing an unstated assumption.

Question 8

An analogy is a comparison between two different cases.

Accepted Answer

An analogy is a comparison that aims to show a similarity between two different things, often used to explain or clarify a concept.

Question 9

A Slippery Slope argument is a variation of False Cause.

Accepted Answer

A Slippery Slope argument suggests that a relatively small first step leads to a chain of related events culminating in some significant effect, often based on causal connections that are not necessarily proven, which is a type of false cause fallacy.

Question 10

The Principle of Charity implies that it is good to support charitable causes.

Accepted Answer

The Principle of Charity is a philosophical guideline suggesting that one should interpret others' statements in their strongest, most persuasive form before critiquing them, rather than as supporting charitable causes.

Question 11

In a false dilemma one should always seek the middle position.

Accepted Answer

A false dilemma presents only two options when in reality more exist; seeking the middle position may not always be appropriate or logical, as the true solution could lie outside the presented options.

Question 12

Anselm's Ontological Proof is an example of the Begging the Question fallacy.

Accepted Answer

Anselm's Ontological Proof assumes the existence of God in its premise, which is the very point it seeks to prove, thus engaging in circular reasoning or begging the question.

Question 13

One should always rely upon tradition as a source of authority.

Accepted Answer

Traditions can be valuable and provide insights, but they should not be the sole source of authority as they may not always be relevant, correct, or ethical in the context of modern society and evolving knowledge.

Question 14

Equivocation implies using the same word in two different senses in an argument.

Accepted Answer

Equivocation is a logical fallacy that occurs when a word is used in two or more different senses within an argument, leading to a misleading or ambiguous conclusion.

Question 15

Amphiboly implies using the same word in two different senses in an argument.

Accepted Answer

Amphiboly refers to a situation where a sentence or phrase is ambiguous due to its grammatical structure, not because a word is used in two different senses.

Question 16

Determine what fallacy (if any) is committed.
-You say I shouldn't smoke, but you smoked when you were my age.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Determine what fallacy (if any) is committed.
-You...

Question 17

Determine what fallacy (if any) is committed.
-My mechanic says the multiverse theory best explains the universe.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Determine what fallacy (if any) is committed.
-My...

Question 18

Determine what fallacy (if any) is committed.
-People have tried for millennia to prove that God exits, but every argument fails, therefore, God does not exist.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Determine what fallacy (if any) is committed.
-People...

Question 19

Determine what fallacy (if any) is committed.
-Eight out of ten doctors smoke Chesterfield.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Determine what fallacy (if any) is committed.
-Eight...

Question 20

Determine what fallacy (if any) is committed.
-We must stop allowing television programs to show partial nudity. If we don't, then next they will show full nudity, and everyone knows television sets the trends, so before long we will all run around naked.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Determine what fallacy (if any) is committed.
-We...

Quiz 2: The Principle of Charity: The Goodness of Supporting Charitable Causes