Thinking Critically

Immediately after the new governor was sworn in, our state's economy crashed. Obviously this is the new governor's fault.

Post hoc, ergo propter hoc

Marijuana is a gateway drug. Smoking pot will only lead to the use of more dangerous drugs like heroin or cocaine.

Slippery slope

Everyone has huge credit card debt. You shouldn't worry about it.

This is a logical fallacy because: It tries to justify having huge credit card debt by claiming that everyone has it.

Source B describes a(n) __________ royal marriage, and Source C describes a(n) ___________ royal marriage.

✱ happy ✱ unhappy

What is a logical fallacy?

A logical fallacy is an invalid argument.

Since the entire Spanish Club has signed up to go to Spain for the summer, you need to sign up, too.

Bandwagon

Your teeth will decay if you don't use Be Bright toothpaste.

Either/or

Which statement best expresses the argument hidden within the story entitled "Valiant Effort Propels Fort Western"?

Fort Western's championship victory is not controversial.

Children invariably misbehave in restaurants. I know this because every time I go out to eat, there is a child in the dining room behaving badly.

Hasty generalization

Of the above syntheses, __________ includes the perspective of all three sources.

Synthesis 2

Of the above syntheses, __________ includes the perspective of all three sources.

Synthesis 3

Ginger has moved to four apartments in five years. Clearly, she is too unsteady to be a senior manager.

This is a logical fallacy because: It attacks Ginger instead of addressing her qualifications to be a senior manager.

Twenty years ago, Senator Jones committed adultery. How could we possibly vote for his tax reform proposal?

This is a logical fallacy because: It attacks Jones instead of addressing his tax reform proposal.

It's okay to not give up your bus seat to a pregnant person. Everyone knows that chivalry is dead.

This is a logical fallacy because: It tries to justify keeping a bus seat from a pregnant person by claiming everyone has given up on chivalry.

My neighbor's son plays violent video games. He just was just disciplined for fighting on school property. The video games must have prompted this behavior.

This is a logical fallacy because: It uses faulty reasoning to draw a conclusion about the boy's behavior.

My neighbor had their children vaccinated. Their youngest now has autism. The vaccines caused the autism.

This is a logical fallacy because: It uses faulty reasoning to draw a conclusion about the child's diagnosis.

My uncle suffered from debilitating neck pain for years. He finally visited an acupuncturist. He no longer has any neck pain.

This is a logical fallacy because: It uses faulty reasoning to draw a conclusion about the uncle's pain relief.

The evolutionary biologists Daniel E. Lieberman and Dennis M. Bramble have suggested that our ancestors survived by becoming endurance athletes.

This is not a logical fallacy because: It is a fact.

Don't you wish lattes at fashionable coffee bars were less expensive? Which of the following arguments or assumptions are concealed within this personal taste appeal? Check all that apply.

✱ You should enjoy hanging out at fashionable coffee bars. ✱ You should enjoy saving money while partaking of normally expensive goods. ✱ You drink lattes occasionally, if not often.

Source C describes how a woman who married into a royal family can have a __________ on her country.

negative influence

Source A describes how a woman who married into a royal family can have a __________ on her country

positive influence

Don't you wish you could find a personal trainer who was available four days a week? Which of the following arguments or assumptions are concealed within this personal taste appeal? Check all that apply.

✱ You have money to pay for a personal trainer. ✱ You should value working out with a personal trainer. ✱ You should work out with a personal trainer several times per week.

Which of the following is a paraphrase of the main idea of Source B?

Michiko Shoda's marriage to the Crown Prince of Japan, Prince Akihito, was a good match.

It shifts attention from the obvious meaning to a meaning that is more favorable to the speaker's position.

Our company did not fire 2,000 employees. It gave 2,000 individuals the greatest gift of all: freedom. The freedom to choose their own destinies. The freedom that the Founding Fathers fought so valiantly to preserve. What makes this comment an example of spin?

My cousin does not believe that homeschooling is an effective way to educate children. What does she know? She doesn't even have kids.

Ad hominem

High-minded, civil debate is important to our society.

Claim: Social media sites should do more to discourage trolling (the posting of upsetting comments in order to offend people) . . . Grounds: . . . because it ultimately reduces public debate to an obscene shouting match. Which statement expresses the underlying assumption that connects the claim and the grounds?

It is desirable to be able to find one's notes and homework.

Claim: You should organize your notebooks and binders . . . Grounds: . . . so that you'll be able to easily find your notes and homework. Which statement expresses the underlying assumption that connects the claim and the grounds?

Which of the following is a paraphrase of the main idea of Source A?

Queen Rania Al Abdullah is devoted to improving the life of the Jordanian people.

Which statement best expresses the argument hidden within the story entitled "Wealthy Residents Want to Privatize Neighborhood"?

Residents of this rich neighborhood are whining because they don't want to interact with the non-rich.

How does this news report ("Valiant Effort Propels Fort Western") make the argument you selected in the previous question?

It emphasizes the effort of the running back rather than the controversy surrounding the touchdown.

How does this news report ("Wealthy Residents Want to Privatize Neighborhood") make the argument you selected in the previous question?

It repeatedly alludes to financial issues and it cites an opposing viewpoint.

It shifts attention from a commonly accepted idea to one that is more favorable to the speaker's position.

Some health care lobbyists say that eating vast amounts of bacon is unhealthy because it makes your heart beat faster. I say this is actually a benefit. Bacon isn't harming your heart; it's helping you build cardiovascular strength. What makes this comment an example of spin?

As a teenager, Mr. Lucas smoked cigarettes. There is no way he should be hired as a health teacher.

This is a logical fallacy because: It attacks Mr. Lucas instead of addressing his qualifications to be a health teacher.

I'm going to cheat on my homework. All of my classmates are doing it, so there is no reason for me to do mine the proper way.

This is a logical fallacy because: It takes advantage of a common view to persuade the reader to believe that it is okay to cheat on homework.

The Air Canada Pilots Association is calling for new regulations to limit the number of on-duty hours for pilots.

This is not a logical fallacy because: It presents a factual statement.

Ralph Steinman won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2011 for his "personalized" approach to treating cancer.

This is not a logical fallacy because: It provides factual evidence.

"How can I figure out what assumption an argument is based on?" What would you say to help this student?

Try considering the claim and grounds and then asking yourself why the grounds are relevant.