Logic Chapter 3 Exam
Whoever thrusts a knife into another person should be arrested. But this is exactly what surgeons do when they are operating. Therefore, surgeons should be arrested.
Accident
"The First Amendment to the Constitution prevents the government from interfering with the free exercise of religion. The liturgical practice of the Religion of Internal Enlightenment involves human sacrifice. Therefore, it would be wrong for the government to interfere with this religious practice."
accident
Freedom of speech is guaranteed by the First Amendment. Therefore, your friend was acting within his rights when he shouted "Fire! Fire!" in the crowded theater, even though it was only a joke.
accident
The Contract Clause of the Constitution gives everyone the right to enter into contracts. Therefore, it should be legal to hire a hit man to bump off that guy who's been pestering you.
accident
Professor Carson argues in favor of banning skateboards on campus. Apparently Carson is against anything that has wheels. No bicycles, no roller blades, not even any wheelchairs to get around. From this is should be clear that Professor Carson's argument makes no sense.
ad hominem
Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy is not worth the paper it is printed on. Nietzsche was an immoral reprobate who went completely insane from syphilis before he died.
ad hominem-abusive
"Erica Evans, who takes orders at the local Taco Bell, argues in support of increasing the minimum wage. But this is exactly what you would expect. Erica makes only the minimum wage herself, and if the minimum wage is increased her own salary will go up. Obviously, Erica's arguments are worthless and can be safely ignored."
ad hominem-circumstantial
Mr. Fleming's argument against the rent-control initiative on the September ballot should be taken with a grain of salt. As a landlord, he would naturally be expected to oppose the initiative.
ad hominem-circumstantial
"Dr. Morrison has argued that smoking is responsible for the majority of health problems in this country and that every smoker who has even the slightest concern for his or her health should quit. Unfortunately, however, we consign Dr. Morrison's argument to the trash bin. Only yesterday I saw Dr. Morrison himself smoking a cigar."
ad hominem-tu quoque
George said that he was interviewing for a job drilling oil wells in the supervisor's office. We can only conclude that the supervisor must have a dirty, oily office.
amphiboly
Mr. Wilson said that on July 4th he went out on the veranda and watched the fireworks go off in his pajamas. We conclude that Mr. Wilson must have had a very exciting evening.
amphiboly
"Surely you welcome the opportunity to join our protective organization. Think of all the money you will lose from broken windows, overturned trucks, and damaged merchandise in the event of your not joining."
appeal to force
Johnny, of course I deserve the use of your bicycle for the afternoon. After all, I'm sure you wouldn't want your mother to find out that you played hooky today.
appeal to force
No one has proved conclusively that America's nuclear power plants constitute a danger to people living in their immediate vicinity. Therefore, it is perfectly safe to build nuclear power plants near large metropolitan areas.
appeal to ignorance
The proposal to ban smoking in the workplace is a terrible idea. Consider the plight of the poor smokers. Just to get a puff, they'll have to go outside, where they'll face icy blasts of winter, torrential rains in the spring, and the blazing sun in the summer. Nobody should ever be subjected to such torture.
appeal to pity
According to certain reports, when Barack Obama was a youngster he attended a Muslim seminary in Indonesia for four years. Others say that when he was sworn in as a senator he placed his hand on a Koran instead of a Bible. And some say he bears a striking resemblance to the Antichrist. Moreover, countless e-mail messages speak of Muslim sleeper cells hidden away in every branch of government. Could they all be linked to Obama? Just imagine, he gives the signal and they all spring into action. In no time, our Constitution is replaced by Sharia law. We can't wait a minute longer. Obama must be impeached and removed from office.
appeal to the people
My dear, you shouldn't hesitate for a minute before buying a new mink coat. Real fur is in right now, and a full mink is the ultimate in fashion. It tells the whole world that you have exquisite taste and the financial means to express it.
appeal to the people
Practically everyone downloads music free of charge from the Internet these days. Therefore, you should have no qualms about doing this yourself.
appeal to the people-bandwagon
You should read Irving Stone's latest novel right away. It has sold over a million copies, and practically everyone in literary circles is talking about it.
appeal to the people-indirect
James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, says that men have the divine obligation to lead their families and women have the divine obligation to submit to their husband's authority. Given Dobson's apparent ability to receive messages from God, we must conclude that this statement is absolutely true.
appeal to unqualified authority
There must be something to psychical research. Three famous physicists - Oliver Lodge, James Jeans, and A. S Eddington - took it very seriously.
appeal to unqualified authority
Michael Moore, the documentary filmmaker, argues that capitalist institutions are ravaging America's middle class and walking away with billions of dollars in their pockets. But Moore is just a big, fat, populist rabble-rouser, and a multi-millionaire to boot. He should just keep his mouth shut.
argument ad hominem
Scientists have identified a "God gene" which they think is responsible for the widespread belief in a deity. Obviously, God planted that gene in humans to ensure their belief in God.
begging the question
Why is it so difficult for you to reach a decision?
complex question
Every sentence in this paragraph is well-written. Therefore, the paragraph is well-written
composition
Johnson is employed by the General Services Administration, and everyone knows that the GSA is the most inefficient branch of government. Therefore, Johnson must be an inefficient worker.
division
Water will quench one's thirst. Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen. So, hydrogen will quench one's thirst and so will oxygen.
division
An athlete is a human being. Therefore, a good athlete is a good human being.
equivocation
Whatever is bright is intelligent. The Sun, of course, is extremely bright. Therefore, the Sun is extremely intelligent.
equivocation
Composition and division involve the distributive predication of an attribute.
false
If an arguer attempts to discredit court room testimony or a promise by pointing out that the witness or the person making the promise is a liar, then the arguer commits and argumentum ad hominem (argument against the person) fallacy.
false
If an arguer cites a statement by a recognized expert in support of a conclusion and the statement falls within the expert's range of expertise, then the arguer commits and appeal to unqualified authority.
false
If an attorney for the defense in a U. S. or Canadian criminal trial argues that the prosecution has proved nothing beyond a reasonable doubt about the guilt of the defendant, so her client must be judged "not guilty," the attorney commits and appeal to ignorance.
false
If the conclusion of an argument depends on the occurrence of a chain reaction of events, and there is good reason to believe that the chain reaction will actually occur, the argument commits the slippery slope fallacy.
false
In the appeal to force, the arguer physically attacks the listener.
false
In the appeal to ignorance, the arguer accuses the reader or listener of being ignorant.
false
In the argumentum ad hominem circumstantial, the circumstances cited by the second arguer are intended precisely to malign the character of the first arguer.
false
In the statement "Divorces are increasing," an attribute is predicated distributively.
false
In the tu quoque fallacy, the arguer threatens the reader or listener.
false
The fallacy of amphiboly usually involves the ambiguous use of a single word.
false
The fallacy of composition always proceeds from whole to parts.
false
The fallacy of division always proceeds from parts to whole
false
The fallacy of equivocation arises from a syntactical defect in a statement.
false
A few minutes after Governor Smith finished a speech on television, a devastating earthquake struck southern Alaska. For the safety of the people of Alaska, it is imperative that Governor Smith refrain from making any more speeches.
false cause
Jessica has played 8 games of Bingo in a row without winning a game. Therefore, her chances are much better for winning the next game.
false cause
There are more churches in New York City than in any other city in the nation, and more crimes are committed in New York City than anywhere else. So, to eliminate crime, we must close the churches.
false cause
Either you buy me a new Apple watch or I'll be late for all my meetings. I'm sure you don't want me to be late, so you'll buy me the Apple watch. How about that one with the nice sports band?
false dichotomy
Either you marry me right now or I'll be forced to leave you and never speak to you again. I'm sure you wouldn't want me to do that. Therefore, you'll marry me right now.
false dichotomy
Bill Gates and Warren Buffet give millions of dollars to charitable causes last year. So, it is clear that all wealthy people give huge amounts of money to charity every year.
hasty generalization
Dr. Williams cheated Medicare by exaggerating expenses, and Dr. Fox cheated by submitting fees for nonexistent patients. Dr. Harris defrauded a dozen insurance companies by requiring unneeded lab tests. The apparent conclusion is that all doctors cheat.
hasty generalization
"If 20 percent of adult Americans are functionally illiterate, then it's no wonder that morons get elected to public office. In fact, 20 percent of adult Americans are functionally illiterate. Therefore, it's no wonder that morons get elected to public office."
no fallacy
Butane is combustible. Therefore, it is capable of burning.
no fallacy
Each and every cell in this carrot is 90% water. Therefore, the entire carrot is 90% water.
no fallacy
In testimony to the court, Harold Geyser, President of the American Accounting Association, said that the CFO of the Del Ray Corporation falsified the corporation's financial statements. Therefore, members of the jury, you must conclude that the CFO did indeed falsify these statements.
no fallacy
Jason's quartz watch runs about 3 years and 4 months on a fresh battery. Therefore, David's watch, which is the same make and model as Jason's, will probably run about 3 years and 4 months on a fresh battery.
no fallacy
Lester Brown, universally respected author of the yearly State of the World report, has said that the destruction of the tropical rain forests is one of the ten most serious worldwide problems. Thus, it is very likely that this is indeed a serious problem.
no fallacy
No one has ever seen Janice Rogers eat beef, chicken, lamb, pork or any other kind of meat. We conclude that Janice is probably no a meat eater.
no fallacy
Probably no life exists on Venus. Teams of scientists have conducted exhaustive studies of the planets surface and atmosphere, and no living organisms have been found.
no fallacy
The accumulation of pressure in a society is similar to the buildup of pressure in a boiler. If the pressure in the boiler increases beyond a critical point, the boiler will explode. Accordingly, if a government represses its people beyond a certain point, they will rise up and revolt.
no fallacy
The operation of a camera is similar in many ways to the operation of an eye. If you are to see anything in a darkened room, the pupils of your eyes must first dilate. Accordingly, if you are to take a photograph (without flash) in a darkened room, the aperture of the camera lens must first be increased.
no fallacy
World-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking claims that black holes do not gobble up everything that falls into them without leaving a trace, but that something is always left behind. Given Hawking's stature as a scientist and the many years he has worked on this problem, we should conclude that this is indeed the case.
no fallacy
"Animal rights activists say that animals are abused in biomedical research labs. But consider this: Pets are abused by their owners every day. Probably 25 percent of pet owners should never get near animals. Some cases of abuse are enough to make you sick."
red herring
"The school board argues that our schools are in desperate need of repair. But the real reason our students are falling behind is that they spend too much time on their smartphones. Becoming educated involves a lot more than learning how to scroll up and down and move from website to website. The school board should send a letter to the parents urging them to confiscate their kids' cellphones.
red herring
Angela complains tha tthe problems on the algebra test were too hard. But have you ever seen the way Angela flirts with that good-looking quarterback on the football team? She's constantly batting those long, black eyelashes at him, and her tight-fitting sweaters leave nothing to the imagination. Angela should pay more attention to her studies.
red herring
There is a good deal of concern these days about whether eating fast food is unhealthy. But most fast food is really tasty. Just think of those juicy McDonald's hamburgers dripping with melted cheese, and the wonderful, crispy golden fries. And Chicken McNuggets, the creamy shakes and the Egg McMuffins. How could anyone complain about today's fast food?
red herring
We don't dare let the animal-rights activists get their foot in the door. If they sell us on the idea that dogs, cats, and dolphins have rights, next it will be chickens and cows. That means no more fried chicken or steak on the grill. Next it will be worms and insects. This will lead to the total destruction of the entire agricultural system here. The starvation of the human race will follow closely behind.
slippery slope
Professor Carson argues in favor of banning skateboards on campus. Apparently Carson is against anything that has wheels. No bicycles, no roller blades, not even any wheelchairs to get around. From this is should be clear that Professor Carson's argument makes no sense.
straw man
Twenty years ago, Kung Fong, the great sumo wrestler, could have yanked up one of the fir trees in the new municipal arboretum with a single pull. Therefore, since Mr. Fong is as strong today as he was then, he could just as easily pull up one of those trees today.
suppressed evidence
A class statement makes an assertion about a class as a whole.
true
A general statement makes an assertion about each and every member of a class.
true
Amphiboly usually arises from the arguer's misinterpreting a statement made by someone else.
true
Arguments that commit the fallacy of begging the question are normally valid.
true
Equivocation and amphiboly are classified as fallacies of ambiguity.
true
False dichotomy always involves an "either . . . or . . . " statement, at least implicitly.
true
Hasty generalization always proceeds from the particular to the general.
true
If an arguer cites a statement in support of a conclusion and the statement reflects the strong bias of its author, then the arguer commits an appeal to unqualified authority.
true
If an argument concludes that X causes Y simply because X and Y occur over the same time interval, then the argument commits the non causa pro causa variety of the false cause fallacy.
true
If an argument from analogy depends on a causal or systematic relationship between certain attributes, and there is good reason to believe that this relationship exists, then the argument commits no fallacy.
true
In the direct variety of the appeal to the people, the arguer attempts to create a kind of mob mentality.
true
In the fallacy of accident, a general rule is applied to a specific case where it does not fit.
true
In the red herring fallacy, the arguer attempts to lead the reader or listener off the track.
true
In the statement "Waistlines are increasing," an attribute is predicated distributively.
true
In the straw man fallacy, an arguer often distorts another person's argument by making it look more extreme than it really is.
true
The argumentum ad hominem always involves two arguers.
true
The correct way of responding to a complex question is to divide the question into its component questions and answer each seperately.
true
The effect of begging the question is to hide the fact that a premise may not be true.
true
The fallacy of weak analogy always depends on an alleged similarity between two things or situations.
true
The post hoc propter hoc variety of the false cause fallacy presumes that X causes Y merely because X happens before Y.
true
Whenever one suspects that a missing the point fallacy is being committed, one should be able to state the conclusion that is logically implied by the premises.
true
If a car breaks down on the freeway, a passing mechanic is not obligated to render emergency road service. For similar reasons, if a person suffers a heart attack on the street, a passing physician is not obligated to render emergency medical assistance.
weak analogy
