TED-Ed: Can you outsmart the fallacy that started a witch hunt? | Elizabeth Cox

The video discusses the concept of witch hunts, focusing on McCarthyism in the 1950s. It highlights Senator Joseph McCarthy's baseless accusations against Dorothy Kenyon and the logical fallacy of argument from ignorance. The video emphasizes the importance of the burden of proof, illustrating how claims must be supported by evidence. It concludes with the Senate's dismissal of charges against Kenyon and McCarthy's eventual downfall.

What was the primary reason for the heightened anti-communist sentiment in the United States during the 1950s?

• Economic recession

• Threats from Communist governments

• Technological advancements

• Cultural shifts

Who was the first person accused by Senator McCarthy of being associated with communist organizations?

• Albert Einstein

• Dorothy Kenyon

• Eleanor Roosevelt

• Joseph Stalin

What logical fallacy involves assuming a claim is true because it hasn't been proven false?

• Red herring

• Argument from ignorance

• Straw man

• Slippery slope

What is the principle that requires the person making a claim to provide evidence?

• Principle of charity

• Occam's Razor

• Burden of proof

• Law of identity

What was the outcome for Senator McCarthy after his widespread anti-communist influence?

• He was elected President

• He was awarded a Nobel Prize

• He was disciplined by the Senate

• He became a Supreme Court judge