|
|
Review Exercise Ia: Mixed Fallacies |
| Identify the fallacy that occurs in each passage. These will be fallacies from various categories. |
||
|
|
||
| 1. The groundswell of support for the President's economic program shows that his proposals are what is best for the country. | ||
|
|
||
| 2. Social problems are like a pimple that eventually cure themselves if left alone. Government programs are like a big, clumsy thumb that, if they squeeze the pimple, actually do more harm than good. | ||
|
|
||
| 3. Are you in favor of abortion because you are insensitive or because you hate children? | ||
|
|
||
| 4. The Serbs were systematically exterminating the Kosovo Albanians, seizing their property and driving them from their homes. Clearly it was in the best interest of the United States to intervene militarily. | ||
|
|
||
| 5. A tax cut would be a good idea. Even Allen Greenspan has endorsed the President's tax cut plan. | ||
|
|
||
| 6. You Americans have no right to criticize our bombing of Chechnya after all the damage done in Serbia by NATO bombings. | ||
|
|
||
| 7. No dogs are allowed at the zoo. You'll just have to leave your seeing-eye dog at home. | ||
|
|
||
| 8. My apartment is decorated with elegance and taste. The couch is a fabulous example of Edwardian elegance. The original Rauschenberg over the mantle shows my discerning taste. The carpet is Turkish and the wallpaper incorporates Chinese motifs. What a combination! | ||
|
|
||
| 9. The only people who believe in a strong military are rednecks with an I.Q. under 80. Therefore you shouldn't listen to the arguments of anyone who believes in a strong military. | ||
|
|
||
| 10. If there are other intelligent life-forms in the universe, then we will eventually be able to learn of their existence, since we are bound to discover the existence of any beings in the universe that have some degree of intelligence. | ||
|
|
||
| 11. We should accept the claim that the earth was visited by ancient astronauts, since archaeologists have not been able to prove that ancient technology developed without outside influences. | ||
|
|
||
| 12. If you can't see for yourself that I am the best qualified person for the job, then perhaps my lawyer would be able to convince you. | ||
|
|
||
| 13. Since I have been busy with the school play my grades have gone down hill. My teachers are obviously just jealous that I may some day be a famous actress. | ||
|
|
||
| 14. I don't have to pay to advertise my product on your website. I'm entitled to free speech, and the Supreme Court has ruled that advertising is a form of "speech." | ||
|
|
||
| 15. Wow, the teachers at this university are tough! I took a logic course from Thompson and only got a C, even though I worked really hard! | ||
|
|
||
Go to: WELCOME EXPLANATION of PRINCIPLES TABLE of FALLACIES EXERCISES INDEX