Which of the following best describes an argument that commits the informal fallacy of equivocation?
A) an argument that fails because it relies on words that are ambiguous
B) an argument that is invalid
C) an argument that is valid but relies on a false premise
D) an argument in which a grammatical mistake allows more than one conclusion to be drawn

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An argument commits the informal fallacy of equivocation when it makes use of an ambiguous word in a way that prevents it from supporting its conclusion. The following argument commits the fallacy of equivocation: "Jones went fishing at a bank. A bank is a financial institution. Therefore, Jones went fishing at a financial institution." The first use of bank is in the sense of the edge of a river, while the second use is in the sense of a special kind of financial institution. By making use of two senses of the ambiguous word "bank," the argument commits the informal fallacy of equivocation.

Which of the Following Best Describes an Argument That Commits