Math 1332 Chapter 1A

Math 1332 Chapter 1A

Living in the Media Age

Multiple Select

11. (Appeal to popularity) Apple’s iPhones outsell all other smart phones, so they must be the best smart phones on the market.

a.) Identity the premise(s) and conclusion of the argument.

• P: Apple’s iPhones outsell all other smart phones.

• P: They (iPhones) must be the best smart phones on the market.

• C: Apple’s iPhones outsell all other smart phones.

• C: They (iPhones) must be the best smart phones on the market.

Open Ended

11. (Appeal to popularity) Apple’s iPhones outsell all other smart phones, so they must be the best smart phones on the market.

b.) Briefly describe how the stated fallacy occurs in the argument.

11. b.) (Appeal to Popularity)

The fact that many people buy iPhones does not necessarily mean they are the best smart phones. The fact that many people buy iPhones does not necessarily mean they are the best smart phones.

11. (Appeal to popularity) Apple’s iPhones outsell all other smart phones, so they must be the best smart phones on the market.

c.) Make up another argument that exhibits the same fallacy.

Multiple Select

13. (Appeal to ignorance) Decades of searching have not revealed life on other planets, so life in the universe must be confined to Earth.

a.) Identity the premise(s) and conclusion of the argument.

• P: Decades of searching have not revealed life on other planets.

• P: Life in the universe must be confined to Earth.

• C: Decades of searching have not revealed life on other planets.

• C: Life in the universe must be confined to Earth

Open Ended

13. (Appeal to ignorance) Decades of searching have not revealed life on other planets, so life in the universe must be confined to Earth.

b.) Briefly describe how the stated fallacy occurs in the argument.

13. b.)(Appeal to Ignorance) Failure to find life on other planets does not imply that life does not exist elsewhere in the universe.

13. (Appeal to ignorance) Decades of searching have not revealed life on other planets, so life in the universe must be confined to Earth.

c.) Make up another argument that exhibits the same fallacy.

Multiple Select

15. (Limited choice) He refused to testify by invoking his Fifth Amendment rights, so he must be guilty.

a. Identity the premise(s) and conclusion of the argument.

• P: He refused to testify by invoking his Fifth Amendment rights.

• P: He must be guilty.

• C: He refused to testify by invoking his Fifth Amendment rights.

• C: He must be guilty.

Open Ended

15. (Limited choice) He refused to testify by invoking his Fifth Amendment rights, so he must be guilty.

b.) Briefly describe how the stated fallacy occurs in the argument.

15. b.) (Limited choice)

The conclusion is stated as if it were the only possible conclusion.

15. (Limited choice) He refused to testify by invoking his Fifth Amendment rights, so he must be guilty.

c.) Make up another argument that exhibits the same fallacy.

Multiple Select

17. (Personal attack) Senator Smith’s bill on agricultural policy is a sham, because he has accepted contributions from companies that sell genetically modified crop seeds.

a.) Identity the premise(s) and conclusion of the argument.

• P: Senator Smith’s bill on agricultural policy is a sham.

• P: He has accepted contributions from companies that sell genetically modified crop seeds.

• C: Senator Smith’s bill on agricultural policy is a sham.

• C: He has accepted contributions from companies that sell genetically modified crop seeds.

Open Ended

17. (Personal attack) Senator Smith’s bill on agricultural policy is a sham, because he has accepted contributions from companies that sell genetically modified crop seeds.

b.) Briefly describe how the stated fallacy occurs in the argument.

17. b.) (Personal Attack)

A claim about Senator Smith’s personal behavior is used to criticize his bill. A claim about Senator Smith’s personal behavior is used to criticize his bill.

17. (Personal attack) Senator Smith’s bill on agricultural policy is a sham, because he has accepted contributions from companies that sell genetically modified crop seeds.

c.)Make up another argument that exhibits the same fallacy.

Multiple Select

19. (Diversion) Good grades are needed to get into college, and a college diploma is necessary for a successful career. Therefore, attendance should count in high school grades.

a.) Identity the premise(s) and conclusion of the argument.

• P: Good grades are needed to get into college, and a college diploma is necessary for a successful career.

• P: Attendance should count in high school grades.

• C: Good grades are needed to get into college, and a college diploma is necessary for a successful career.

• C: Attendance should count in high school grades.

Open Ended

19. (Diversion) Good grades are needed to get into college, and a college diploma is necessary for a successful career. Therefore, attendance should count in high school grades.

b.)

19. b.) (Diversion)

The premise (which is often true) directs attention away from the conclusion. The premise (which is often true) directs attention away from the conclusion.

19. (Diversion) Good grades are needed to get into college, and a college diploma is necessary for a successful career. Therefore, attendance should count in high school grades.

c.) Make up another argument that exhibits the same fallacy.

Multiple Select

25. I ate oysters for dinner and later that night I had a nightmare. Oysters caused my nightmare.

Identify the premise(s) and conclusion.

• P: I ate oysters for dinner and later that night I had a nightmare.

• P: Oysters caused my nightmare.

• C: I ate oysters for dinner and later that night I had a nightmare.

• C: Oysters caused my nightmare.

Open Ended

25. I ate oysters for dinner and later that night I had a nightmare. Oysters caused my nightmare.

Explain why the argument is deceptive, and, if possible, identify the type of fallacy it represents.

25. I ate oysters for dinner and later that night I had a nightmare. Oysters caused my nightmare.

The nightmare could have been and most likely was the result of other factors.

False Cause

Multiple Select

27. All the nurses in Belvedere Hospital are women, so women are better qualified for medical jobs.

Identify the premise(s) and conclusion.

• P: All the nurses in Belvedere Hospital are women.

• P: Women are better qualified for medical jobs.

• C: All the nurses in Belvedere Hospital are women.

• C: Women are better qualified for medical jobs.

Open Ended

27. All the nurses in Belvedere Hospital are women, so women are better qualified for medical jobs.

Explain why the argument is deceptive, and, if possible, identify the type of fallacy it represents.

27. All the nurses in Belvedere Hospital are women, so women are better qualified for medical jobs.

Uses nurses at one hospital to talk about nurses for all hospitals. Hasty Generalization.

Multiple Select

35. The senator is a member of the National Rifle Association, so I’m sure she opposes a ban on large-capacity magazines for ammunition.

Identify the premise(s) and conclusion.

• P: The senator is a member of the National Rifle Association.

• P: She opposes a ban on large-capacity magazines for ammunition.

• C: The senator is a member of the National Rifle Association

• C: She opposes a ban on large-capacity magazines for ammunition.

Open Ended

35. The senator is a member of the National Rifle Association, so I’m sure she opposes a ban on large-capacity magazines for ammunition.

Explain why the argument is deceptive, and, if possible, identify the type of fallacy it represents.

35. The senator is a member of the National Rifle Association, so I’m sure she opposes a ban on large-capacity magazines for ammunition.

She could be a member of the club and still support a ban on large-capacity magazines. Straw Man.

Open Ended

43. Consider the following fallacies (which are not discussed in the text). Explain why the fallacy applies to the example and create your own argument that displays the same fallacy.

The slippery slope fallacy has this form:

Premise: X has occurred and is related to Y.

Conclusion: Y will inevitably occur.

Example: America has sent troops to three countries recently. Before you know it, we will have troops everywhere.

Open Ended

45. Evaluating Media Information. Choose a current topic of policy discussion (examples might include gun control, health care, tax policy, or many other topics). Find a website that argues on one side or the other of the topic. Evaluate the arguments based on the five steps for evaluating media information given in this unit. Write a short report on the site you visited and your conclusions about the reliability of its information.

1. Consider the source.

2. Check the date.

3. Validate accuracy.

4. Watch for hidden agendas.

5. Don’t miss the big picture.