Logical Fallacies Revision

What is a logical fallacy?

• A sound and valid argument

• A persuasive technique that strengthens reasoning

• An error in reasoning that weakens an argument

• A factual inaccuracy in statistics

Which fallacy attacks the person instead of their argument?

• Ad hominem

• Circular reasoning

• Strawman

• Hasty generalization

Which fallacy involves misrepresenting someone’s argument to make it easier to refute?

• Ad hominem

• Circular reasoning

• Strawman

• Hasty generalization

Identify the strawman fallacy:

• “We should discuss the policy’s pros and cons.”

• “I believe safety and freedom can coexist.”

• “My opponent supports funding for schools.”

• “My opponent says we should have some gun regulations; clearly, they want to take away everyone’s guns!”

Why is circular reasoning logically flawed?

• It uses statistics incorrectly.

• It repeats the conclusion instead of proving it.

• It attacks the person making the claim.

• It draws from irrelevant examples.

Which of the following is an example of circular reasoning?

• "Scientists claim evolution occurs through natural selection.”

• "If it rains, the ground will be wet.”

• “We know the Bible is true because it says so in the Bible.”

• “Smoking causes cancer, according to studies.”

Which of the following best defines a hasty generalization?

• Drawing a conclusion based on insufficient or unrepresentative evidence.

• Ignoring an opponent’s evidence.

• Making a conclusion that follows logically from the data.

• Using too many examples to prove a point.

How can hasty generalizations be avoided?

• By relying on one strong example.

• By considering multiple sources of evidence before forming a conclusion.

• By repeating a claim until it sounds credible.

• By ignoring outliers.

Identify the hasty generalization:

• “The average score at that school has dropped over five years.”

• “The study surveyed 1,000 students before concluding.”

• "My friend failed maths at that school, so it must have terrible teachers.”

• “There are many reasons why scores fluctuate.”

Which of the following is not an example of an ad hominem attack?

• “You’re too young to understand economics.”

• "We can’t believe what she says; she’s a politician.”

• “Your argument overlooks key data from the past decade.”

• “You only think that because you’re rich.”