Informal Fallacies Final Review

"You’ve got to learn the new TikTok dance everyone’s doing. If you don’t, you’ll be left out!"

• Equivocation

• Ad Hominem Abusive

• Ad hominem Circumstantial

• Bandwagon

• Appeal to Force

Answer explanation

Just because a dance trend is viral doesn’t mean you have to join in. The appeal of the dance to the masses doesn’t inherently make it something everyone should adopt or care about.

“Why should I listen to you about fitness tips? You’re the one who can’t even run a mile without wheezing.”

• Ad Hominem Abusive

• Appeal to Force

• Ad Hominem Circumstantial

• Bandwagon

• Equivocation

Answer explanation

This is an insult against the person based on the fact they are in poor physical shape. But someone doesn't have to be in shape to have valid knowledge and understanding of fitness.

Person A: "The sign says that parking fines will be enforced here."
Person B: "Great! That means if I park here, my car will be fine."

• Bandwagon

• Equivocation

• Ad hominem Circumstantial

• Amphibole

• Appeal to force

Answer explanation

The word "fine" is used in two different senses—first, as a penalty, and second, to mean something is okay. Person B exploits the ambiguity to draw an incorrect conclusion.

"Let’s eat grandma!"

• Bandwagon

• Amphibole

• Ad hominem abusive

• Appeal to force

• Equivocation

Answer explanation

Interpretation 1: You are suggesting that you and others should eat grandma.
Interpretation 2: You are telling grandma to join you for a meal (should be "Let’s eat, grandma!").
Why it’s fallacious: The lack of punctuation makes the statement ambiguous. The missing comma completely changes the meaning, leading to a darkly humorous misinterpretation.

Person A: "I just don't think this 5 year growth plan is what's best for the company." Person B: "Well, as your supervisor, I would suggest you rethink your position before the upcoming board meeting, or you may not be at this company for much longer."

• Ad hominem abusive

• Ad hominem circumstantial

• Bandwagon

• Appeal to force

• Equivocation

Answer explanation

Threatening to fire someone doesn't respond to their reasons for disagreeing with the 5 year growth plan. It's simply trying to change someone's opinion via the use of force.

Student: "Mr. Quin, I am thinking about doing my paper on why God doesn't exist. I have several reasons for thinking that to be the case." Mr. Quin: "Well, as a Christian, I believe you are wrong, and I will just say, if you argue for that in your presentation, I will fail you in this class."

• Bandwagon

• Ad hominem abusive

• Amphibole

• Appeal to force

• Ad hominem circumstantial

Answer explanation

The threat of academic harm is not a good reason to reject someone's arguments against the existence of God.

"If Croesus went to war against Cyrus, he would destroy a great empire."

• Amphibole

• Ad Hominem Abusive

• Ad Hominem Circumstantial

• Appeal to Force

• Bandwagon

Answer explanation

The oracle didn't specify which great empire would be destroyed, so Croesus went to war and destroyed his own empire.

Identify the logical fallacy in the argument: "We should not listen to Jane's opinion on environmental policies because she drives a large SUV."

• Appeal to force

• Ad Hominem Circumstantial

• Ad hominem abusive

• Equivocation

• Amphibole

Which type of fallacy is in the following argument: "The mayor's proposal for a new park must be bad because the mayor has been divorced three times."

• Ad Hominem Abusive

• Ad hominem circumstantial

• Appeal to force

• Bandwagon

• Equivocation

"I don't take your arguments for the Bible seriously. You are a Christian pastor and so I would expect you to say what you are saying."

• Appeal to Force

• Ad hominem circumstantial

• Ad hominem abusive

• Equivocation

• Amphibole