Homework 1A

b. Briefly describe how the stated fallacy occurs in the argument. Choose the correct answer below.

The premise directs attention away from the conclusion.

This is an example of

a Diversion.

This is an example of

an Appeal to Ignorance.

Consider the following example of a fallacy. Complete parts a and b below. Fifty years of searching has not revealed life on other​ planets, so life in the universe must be confined to Earth.

​Premise: Fifty years of searching has not revealed life on other planets.​ Conclusion: Life in the universe must be confined to Earth.

Consider the following example of a fallacy. Complete parts a and b below. He refused to testify by invoking his Fifth Amendment​ rights, so he must be guilty.

​Premise: He refused to testify by invoking his Fifth Amendment rights.​ Conclusion: He must be guilty.

Suppose that the fact that an event A occurs before event B is used to conclude that A caused B. What is this an example​ of? Explain your reasoning.

An argument that uses the fallacy of false cause. The fact that one event came before another event is not evidence that the first event caused the second event.

This is an example of

a Straw Man argument.

This is an example of

the False Cause fallacy.

Consider the following example of the logical fallacy of appeal to popularity. Complete parts​ (a) and​ (b) below. ​Apple's iPhone outsells all other smart​ phones, so it must be the best smart phone on the market. a. What is the​ premise? Choose the correct answer below.

Apple's iPhone outsells all other smart phones.

Consider the following example of a fallacy. Complete parts a and b below. Good grades are needed to get into​ college, and a college diploma is necessary for a good career.​ Therefore, attendance should count in high school grades.

Premise: Good grades are needed to get into​ college, and a college diploma is necessary for a good career.​ Conclusion: Attendance should count in high school grades.

Briefly describe how the stated fallacy occurs in the argument.

The argument​ doesn't prove that Burger Hut food was the cause of the sickness.

b. Briefly describe how the stated fallacy occurs in the argument. Choose the correct answer below.

The conclusion is stated as if it were the only possible conclusion.

What is a​ fallacy? Give examples of fallacies and describe how the argument is deceptive.

A fallacy is a deceptive argument. It is an argument in which the conclusion is not well supported by the premises.

What is the​ conclusion? Choose the correct answer below.

It is the best smart phone on the market.

Consider the following fallacy​ (which was not discussed in the​ text). Explain why the fallacy applies to the example. The middle ground fallacy has the following form. ​Premise: X and Y are two extreme positions on a question. ​Conclusion: ​Z, which lies between X and​ Y, must be correct. ​Example: Senator Peters supports a large tax​ cut, and Senator Willis supports no tax cut. That means a small tax cut must be best.

Let X be no tax cut and Y be a tax cut. A small tax cut lies between no tax cut and a tax cut. Let Z be a small tax cut.

Briefly explain how appeal to popularity occurs in the argument. Choose the correct answer below.

The fact that many people buy the iPhone does not necessarily mean it is the best smart phone on the market.

Why is the argument​ deceptive? Choose the correct answer below.

The argument attempts to divert attention from the real issue by focusing on another issue.

Why is the argument​ deceptive? Choose the correct answer below.

The argument is based on a distortion of​ someone's beliefs.

In the following​ argument, identify the premise and​ conclusion, explain why the argument is​ deceptive, and, if​ possible, identify the type of fallacy it represents. I ate oysters for dinner and later that night I had a nightmare. Oysters caused my nightmare.

The premise is I ate oysters for dinner and later that night I had a nightmare. The conclusion is oysters caused my nightmare.

Consider the following example of a​ fallacy, and complete parts ​(a) through​ (c) below. ​(False cause) I became sick just hours after eating at Burger​ Hut, so its food must have made me sick.

The premise is I became sick soon after eating at Burger Hut. The conclusion is Burger Hut food made me sick.

In the following​ argument, identify the premise and​ conclusion, explain why the argument is​ deceptive, and, if​ possible, identify the type of fallacy it represents. Claims that fracking causes earthquakes are ridiculous. I live near an oil well and have never felt an earthquake.

The premise is I live near an oil well and have never felt an earthquake. The conclusion is claims that fracking causes earthquakes are ridiculous.

In the following​ argument, identify the premise and​ conclusion, explain why the argument is​ deceptive, and, if​ possible, identify the type of fallacy it represents. Responding to Democrats who support doubling the federal minimum​ wage, a Republican​ says, "The Democrats think that everyone should have the same​ income."

The premise is some Democrats support doubling the federal minimum wage. The conclusion is Democrats think everyone should have the same income.

which of the following is another example of a False Cause​ fallacy?

I brought my lucky hat with me to take my driving​ test, and then I passed the test. The hat caused me to pass my driving test.

What is​ logic? Briefly explain how logic can be useful.

Logic is the study of the methods and principles of reasoning. It can be useful in providing strong support for​ conclusions, and to help identify errors in​ reasoning, or fallacies.

Which of the following are​ fallacies? Describe how each choice is deceptive. Select all that apply.

Society has an obligation to provide health insurance because health care is a right of citizenship. This argument is deceptive because the premise and conclusion essentially say the same thing. I placed the quartz crystal on my​ forehead, and in five minutes my headache was gone. The crystal made my headache go away. This argument is deceptive because it claims that because one thing happened before​ another, the first event caused the second​ event, but it​ doesn't prove that there is any connection between the two events. Company A makes the best pickup trucks in the world. More people drive Company A pickups than any other light truck. This argument is deceptive because the fact that a large number of people buy Company A pickup trucks does not necessarily mean that they are the best trucks.

Why is the argument​ deceptive? Choose the correct answer below.

The lack of knowledge about the truth of a proposition is used as evidence against the proposition.

In the following​ argument, identify the premise and​ conclusion, explain why the argument is​ deceptive, and, if​ possible, identify the type of fallacy it represents. Wider highways can relieve traffic​ congestion, so we should build wider highways to benefit the tourist industry.

The premise is wider highways can relieve traffic congestion. The conclusion is we should build wider highways to benefit the tourist industry.

Briefly describe how the stated fallacy occurs in the argument.

The premise is stated according to a lack of evidence of the opposite of the conclusion.

Why is the argument​ deceptive? Choose the correct answer below.

The premise tells us one thing happened before​ another, but​ doesn't prove any connection between them.

Decide whether the following statement makes sense​ (or is clearly​ true) or does not make sense​ (or is clearly​ false). Explain your reasoning. Even though your argument contains a​ fallacy, your conclusion is believable.

The statement makes sense. An argument that contains a fallacy can be believable.