Understanding Logical Fallacies

Fill in the blank: A conclusion often appears to follow logically and nontrivially from true premises, and only careful examination can reveal the ______ of the argument.

• strength

• fallaciousness

• validity

• truth

Fill in the blank: Logical fallacies can take on a special life of their own when they are popularized in the media and become part of a ______.

• national credo

• scientific theory

• logical argument

• personal opinion

What does the fallacy 'begging the question' involve?

• A) Assuming the conclusion

• B) Attacking the person

• C) Appealing to pity

• D) Following the majority.

A sweeping generalization is also known as which fallacy?

• Ad hominem

• Dicto simpliciter

• False dilemma

• Non sequitur

The false dilemma fallacy is an oversimplification where only two alternatives are provided when in fact additional options are available. True or False?

• True

• False

Name calling is a fallacy that relies on ____.

• Logical reasoning

• Emotionally loaded terms

• Majority opinion

• Irrelevant appeals

Informal fallacies are usually emphasized in which type of reasoning?

• Deductive

• Inductive

• Emotional

• Structural

What is the fallacy called when one event is said to be the cause of a later event simply because it occurred earlier?

• Red herring

• Post hoc

• Straw man

• Stacking the deck

What is the fallacy called when evidence supporting an opposing argument is ignored?

• Red herring

• Post hoc

• Straw man

• Stacking the deck

Fill in the blank: An argument that is misrepresented to be more easily refuted is called a ________.

• A) Red herring

• B) Post hoc

• C) Straw man

• D) Stacking the deck