Logical Fallacies- Latest Update 2025 Exam Questions Solved Correctly

Logical Fallacies- Latest Update 2025 Exam Questions Solved Correctly Ad Fontem - Answers Arguments against the source. Audience is distracted by arguer drawing unnecessary attention to the sources instead of the argument. Subsets include: Ad Hominem Abusive, Ad Hominem Circumstantial, Tu Quoque, and Genetic Fallacy Ad Hominem - Answers (Latin for *against the man*): When the writer attacks a person (personal character or reputation) instead of addressing the argument or the issue. This fallacy draws attention away from the real issues. Example: Don't vote for William Smith. He has been married three times. Ad Hominem Circumstantial - Answers Somewhat more subtle, this type of argument says, or implies, that the speaker's rival should not be trusted in making his argument because of various circumstances regarding his rival. The most common version includes an implication that a person's argument should be discounted because of his self-interest in the matter. Ad Hominem Abusive - Answers In this most obvious of all personal attacks, the speaker assaults his rival with a great deal of abusive language in an attempt to avoid the issue. Tu Quoque - Answers (Latin for *you too*): Dismissing someone's viewpoint or recommendation because he himself is inconsistent in that very thing or does not always follow it himself. Genetic Fallacy - Answers Condemning an argument because of its source: where it began, how it began, or who began it. Generally used when the source being attacked isn't a specific person, but a people group or institution. Example: Jenny, the only reason why you disagree with abortion is because you were abused as a child and have never gotten over it. Faulty Emotional Appeals - Answers When the arguer seeks sensational or sentimental reactions in the audience; bases an argument on feelings (especially pity or fear), often to draw attention away from the real issues or to conceal another purpose. Example: If you don't study at least an hour every night, you won't get into college and you won't have a successful life. Includes: Appeal to Fear, Appeal to Pity, Mob Appeal, Snob Appeal, Appeal to Illegitimate Authority, and Chronological Snobbery. Appeal to Fear - Answers (*ad baculum*, "to stick" in Latin) Without making a clear causal connection, a person committing this fallacy references the potential for bad consequences to occur if the person to whom they are speaking does not agree with them. Appeal to Pity - Answers (*ad misericordian*, "to pity" in Latin) Using this type of argument, the speaker tries to convince others of his point of view by making them feel sorry for him or for other people. Ad Populum (Mob Appeal) - Answers ("to the people" in Latin) An appeal to the prejudices of the masses that asserts if many believe it, then it is so. The assumption here is that if everyone is going to agree with me, then I don't really need to support my claim with any evidence. Just because a lot of people believe something, that doesn't necessarily make it true. Example: Politicians often want whatever the American people want, as if everyone wants/believes the same thing. Snob Appeal - Answers This is an appeal to a sense of elitism or to those of "discriminating taste." It is used when someone tries to persuade us to think their product would make us better, or stand out, from everyone else. Faulty Use of Authority - Answers (*ad verecundiam* means "to shame" in Latin) The arguer attempts to justify his claim by citing testimony or opinions of experts, an illegitimate authority. Also, the arguer fails to acknowledge disagreements among experts or otherwise misrepresents the trustworthiness of sources. Example: Kobe Bryant believes that kids who watch too much TV are not as smart as kids who play outside. Chronological Snobbery - Answers This is an appeal to something's age to justify either accepting or rejecting it. Red Herring - Answers This fallacy exists when the arguer throws out an unrelated argument to divert the reader's/listener's attention. Includes: Appeal to Ignorance, Irrelevant Goals or Functions, Irrelevant Thesis, and Straw Man. Appeal to Ignorance - Answers This argument makes the mistake of saying that because a proposition cannot be disproved, it must, therefore, be likely. Irrelevant Goals or Functions - Answers This is an argument that assumes a goal or function of a certain practice or policy is either unrealistic or irrelevant. Therefore, the practice or policy is not acceptable. Example: Spending money on tuition at a faraway college hurts economy of hometown; instead, stay here and spend your money in our hometown to build our economy and help us all.