Straw Man Fallacy Essay
Chapter 3
3.3 QUIZ
In the appeal to force, the arguer physically attacks the listener. F
In the fallacy of accident, a general rule is applied to a specific case where it does not fit. T
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 an argumentum ad hominem (argument against the person) fallacy. T (calling someone a liar without evidence is abusive)
In the argumentum ad hominem circumstantial, the circumstances cited by the second arguer are intended precisely to malign the character of the first arguer. T
In the straw man fallacy, an arguer often distorts another person’s argument by making it look more extreme …show more content…
We must therefore conclude that extrasensory perception is a myth. – appeal to ignorance
What the farmer sows in the spring he reaps in the fall. In the spring he sows $8-per-bushel soybeans. Therefore in the fall he will reap $8-per-bushel soybeans. – accident
World-famous paleontologist, Stephen Jay Gould, says that the dinosaurs were killed by a large asteroid that collided with the earth. Furthermore, many scientists agree with Gould. Therefore we conclude that the dinosaurs were probably killed by an asteroid. – appeal to unqualified authority
Emily has bought over one hundred tickets on the weekly state lottery, and she has never won anything. Therefore, the likelihood increases every week that she will win something if she continues to buy tickets. – false cause
Johnny, of course, I deserve the use of your bicycle for the afternoon. After all, I am sure you wouldn't want your mother to find out that you played hooky today. – appeal to force
As a businessperson you certainly want to subscribe to Forbes magazine. Virtually all the successful business executives in the country subscribe to it. – appeal to the …show more content…
Examine the conclusion of the argument. If the conclusion is a general statement – that is, a statement in which an attribute is predicated distributively to each and every member of a class – the fallacy committed is hasty generalization. But if the conclusion is a class statement – that is, a statement in uu7which an attribu8te is predicted collectively to a class as a whole – the fallacy is composition.
Summary of Informal Fallacies – 163
3.4 Quiz
Arguments that commit the fallacy of begging the question are normally valid – T
In the statement “Divorces are increasing,” an attribute is predicated distributively – F
A class statement makes an assertion about a class as a whole – T
A general statement makes an assertion about each and every member of a class – T
The fallacy of division always proceeds from parts to whole – F
False dichotomy always involves an “either… or…” statement, at least implicitly – T
Composition and division involve the distributive predication of an attribute –
3.3 QUIZ
In the appeal to force, the arguer physically attacks the listener. F
In the fallacy of accident, a general rule is applied to a specific case where it does not fit. T
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 an argumentum ad hominem (argument against the person) fallacy. T (calling someone a liar without evidence is abusive)
In the argumentum ad hominem circumstantial, the circumstances cited by the second arguer are intended precisely to malign the character of the first arguer. T
In the straw man fallacy, an arguer often distorts another person’s argument by making it look more extreme …show more content…
We must therefore conclude that extrasensory perception is a myth. – appeal to ignorance
What the farmer sows in the spring he reaps in the fall. In the spring he sows $8-per-bushel soybeans. Therefore in the fall he will reap $8-per-bushel soybeans. – accident
World-famous paleontologist, Stephen Jay Gould, says that the dinosaurs were killed by a large asteroid that collided with the earth. Furthermore, many scientists agree with Gould. Therefore we conclude that the dinosaurs were probably killed by an asteroid. – appeal to unqualified authority
Emily has bought over one hundred tickets on the weekly state lottery, and she has never won anything. Therefore, the likelihood increases every week that she will win something if she continues to buy tickets. – false cause
Johnny, of course, I deserve the use of your bicycle for the afternoon. After all, I am sure you wouldn't want your mother to find out that you played hooky today. – appeal to force
As a businessperson you certainly want to subscribe to Forbes magazine. Virtually all the successful business executives in the country subscribe to it. – appeal to the …show more content…
Examine the conclusion of the argument. If the conclusion is a general statement – that is, a statement in which an attribute is predicated distributively to each and every member of a class – the fallacy committed is hasty generalization. But if the conclusion is a class statement – that is, a statement in uu7which an attribu8te is predicted collectively to a class as a whole – the fallacy is composition.
Summary of Informal Fallacies – 163
3.4 Quiz
Arguments that commit the fallacy of begging the question are normally valid – T
In the statement “Divorces are increasing,” an attribute is predicated distributively – F
A class statement makes an assertion about a class as a whole – T
A general statement makes an assertion about each and every member of a class – T
The fallacy of division always proceeds from parts to whole – F
False dichotomy always involves an “either… or…” statement, at least implicitly – T
Composition and division involve the distributive predication of an attribute –