Test I Flashcards
(57 cards)
Name all of the Fallacies of Relevance.
There are eight:
1) Red Herring
2) Straw Man
3) Accident
4) Ignoratis Elenchi (Missing the Point)
5) Argumentum ad Populum (Appeal to the People)
6) Argumentum ad Hominem (Argument Against the Person)
7) Argumentum ad Baculum (Appeal to Force)
8) Argumentum ad Misericordiam (Appeal to Pity)
Name all of the Fallacies of Weak Induction.
There are six:
1) Hasty Generalization
2) False Cause
3) Slippery Slope
4) Weak Analogy
5) Argumentum ad Verecundiam (Appeal to Unqualified Authority)
6) Argumentum ad Ignorantiam (Appeal to Ignorance)
Name all of the Fallacies of Presumption, Ambiguity, and Illicit Transference.
There are four fallacies of presumption:
1) Complex Question
2) False Dichotomy
3) Suppressed Evidence
4) Petitio Principii (Begging the Question)
There are two fallacies of ambiguity:
1) Equivocation
2) Amphiboly
There are two fallacies of illicit transference:
1) Composition
2) Division
Identify the premises and the conclusion of the following argument:
Carbon monoxide molecules happen to be just the right size and shape, and happen to have just the right chemical properties, to fit neatly into cavities within hemoglobin molecules in blood that are normally reserved for oxygen molecules. Consequently, carbon monoxide diminishes the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood.
P1: Carbon monoxide molecules happen to be just the right size and shape to fit neatly into cavities within hemoglobin molecules in blood that are normally reserved for oxygen molecules.
P2: Carbon monoxide molecules happen to have just the right chemical properties to fit neatly into cavities within hemoglobin molecules in blood that are normally reserved for oxygen molecules.
C: Carbon monoxide diminishes the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood.
Identify the premises and the conclusion of the following argument:
When individuals voluntarily abandon property, they forfeit any expectation of privacy in it that they might have had. Therefore, a warrantless search or seizure of abandoned property is not unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment.
P1: When individuals voluntarily abandon property, they forfeit any expectation of privacy in it that they might have had.
C: Therefore, a warrantless search or seizure of abandoned property is not unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment.
Identify the premises and the conclusion of the following argument:
It really does matter if you get enough sleep. We need sleep to think clearly, react quickly, and create memories. Studies show that people who are taught mentally challenging tasks do better after a good night’s sleep. Other research suggests that sleep is needed for creative problem solving.
P1: We need sleep to think clearly, react quickly, and create memories.
P2: Studies show that people who are taught mentally challenging tasks do better after a good night’s sleep.
P3: Other research suggests that sleep is needed for creative problem solving.
C: It really does matter if you get enough sleep.
T/F: The purpose of the premise or premises is to set forth the reasons or evidence given in support of the conclusion.
True.
T/F: All arguments must have more than one premise.
False.
Determine whether the following argument is inductive or deductive:
Because triangle A is congruent with triangle B, and triangle B is isosceles, it follows that triangle B is isosceles.
Deductive, based on mathematics
Determine whether the following argument is inductive or deductive:
No e-mail messages are eloquent creations. Some love letters are eloquent creations. Therefore, some love letters are not e-mail messages.
Deductive, conclusion follows necessarily from the premises
Determine whether the following argument is inductive or deductive:
Paying off terrorists in exchange for hostages is not a wise policy, since such action will only lead them to take more hostages in the future.
Inductive, based on prediction/casual inference
Determine whether the following deductive argument is valid or invalid:
Since “Moby Dick” was written by Shakespeare, and “Moby Dick” is a science-fiction novel, it follows that Shakespeare wrote a science-fiction novel.
Valid, unsound
Determine whether the following deductive argument is valid or invalid:
The longest river in South America is the Amazon, and the Amazon flows through Brazil. Therefore, the longest river in South America flows through Brazil.
Valid, sound
Determine whether the following deductive argument is valid or invalid:
All leopards with lungs are carnivores. Therefore, all leopards are carnivores.
Invalid, unsound
Determine whether the following inductive argument is strong or weak:
The grave marker at Arlington National Cemetery says that John F. Kennedy is buried there. It must be the case that Kennedy really is buried in that cemetery.
Strong, cogent
Determine whether the following inductive argument is strong or weak:
Franklin Delano Roosevelt said that we have nothing to fear but fear itself. Therefore, women have no reason to fear serial rapists.
Weak, uncogent
Determine whether the following inductive argument is strong or weak:
People have been listening to rock and roll music for over a hundred years. Probably people will still be listening to it a year from now.
Weak, cogent
T/F: Inductive arguments allow for varying degrees of strength and weakness.
True.
T/F: A valid argument may have a false premise and a false conclusion.
True.
T/F: A statement may legitimately be spoken of as “valid” or “invalid.”
False.
Identify the fallacy of relevance committed by the following argument:
The position open in the accounting department should be given to Frank Thompson. Frank has six hungry children to feed, and his wife desperately needs an operation to save her eyesight.
Argumentum ad Misericordiam (Appeal to Pity)
Identify the fallacy of relevance committed by the following argument:
Whoever thrusts a knife into another person should be arrested. But surgeons do precisely this when operating. Therefore, surgeons should be arrested.
Accident
Identify the fallacy of relevance committed by the following argument:
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.
Argumentum ad Baculum (Argument by Force)
Identify the fallacy of weak induction committed by the following argument:
The “Daily News” carried an article this morning about three local teenagers who were arrested on charges of drug possession. Teenagers these days are nothing but a bunch of junkies.
Hasty generalization
