15 Logical fallacies Exam
Questions and Answers
Begging the Question (circular logic) - -The writer presents an arguable point
as a fact that supports the argument
Ex-These movies are popular because they make so much money. They
make a lot of money because people like them. People like them because
they are so popular
- Non sequitur - -The conclusion doesn't logically follow the explanation
Ex-The rain came down so hard that Jennifer actually called me
- Post Hoc (Ergo Propter Hoc) - -Writer assumes that because one event
follows another in time that the first event caused the second.
Ex-Eating five candy bars and drinking two sodas before a test helps me get
better grades. I did that and got an A on my last test in history
- Faulty Analogies - -Writer uses similar situations to explain a relationship
but the comparisons/metaphors relate ideas or situations that upon closer
inspection aren't really that similar.
Ex-Forcing students to attend cultural events is like herding cattle to
slaughter. The students stampede in to the event where they are
systematically 'put to sleep' by the program
- Hasty Generalizations - -An argument based on insufficient evidence; one
looking only at a small group as representative of the whole.
Ex-Concluding that all fraternities are party houses because you have seen
three parties at one fraternity
- Red Herrings - -Little relevance is given to the argument at hand.
Ex-Winthrop should pave the lot behind Dinkins. Besides, I can never find a
parking space on campus anyway.
- Equivocation - -The writer makes use of a word's multiple meanings and
changes the meanings in the middle of the argument without really telling
the audience about the shift.
Questions and Answers
Begging the Question (circular logic) - -The writer presents an arguable point
as a fact that supports the argument
Ex-These movies are popular because they make so much money. They
make a lot of money because people like them. People like them because
they are so popular
- Non sequitur - -The conclusion doesn't logically follow the explanation
Ex-The rain came down so hard that Jennifer actually called me
- Post Hoc (Ergo Propter Hoc) - -Writer assumes that because one event
follows another in time that the first event caused the second.
Ex-Eating five candy bars and drinking two sodas before a test helps me get
better grades. I did that and got an A on my last test in history
- Faulty Analogies - -Writer uses similar situations to explain a relationship
but the comparisons/metaphors relate ideas or situations that upon closer
inspection aren't really that similar.
Ex-Forcing students to attend cultural events is like herding cattle to
slaughter. The students stampede in to the event where they are
systematically 'put to sleep' by the program
- Hasty Generalizations - -An argument based on insufficient evidence; one
looking only at a small group as representative of the whole.
Ex-Concluding that all fraternities are party houses because you have seen
three parties at one fraternity
- Red Herrings - -Little relevance is given to the argument at hand.
Ex-Winthrop should pave the lot behind Dinkins. Besides, I can never find a
parking space on campus anyway.
- Equivocation - -The writer makes use of a word's multiple meanings and
changes the meanings in the middle of the argument without really telling
the audience about the shift.
