QUESTIONS AND 100% CORRECT AND VERIFIED
Exclusivity - ANSWER 1. "exhaustive list" fallacy: argument fails to establish that the list
of options is exhaustive (no other options available)
2. argument will falsely assume that 2 options are exclusive (cannot be some combination of
both)
identify:
1. strong conclusion (only, solely, wholly, entirely) indicates author overlooks other options
2. if options/factors are discussed, question whether other factors are forgotten
3. argument goes from one extreme to another but ignores the possibility that there is a middle
ground
causation fallacy - ANSWER 1. speaker assumes causation from correlation
2. infers, merely from a claim, that 2 phenomenon are associated, that one phenomenon
causes the other
identify:
1. look for cause/effect in stimulus
2. argument omits other possible causes (plausible alternate causes
3. reverse cause/effect: a way to point out alternate causes is to reverse the cause/effect
relationship... maybe the effect can be the cause
fallacy of the inverse/converse (sufficiency & necessity) - ANSWER argument will
confuse a sufficient condition with a necessary condition and vise versa
Equivocation Fallacy - ANSWER SHIFT IN MEANING
, take 2 separate/distinct ideas and try to pass them off as the same idea. done in 2 ways:
1. uses the same word to refer to 2 different concepts -- look for shifts in the meaning of the
same word
2. argument equates separate but distinct concepts -- author brings up something in
conclusion that wasn't brought up in the premises
Ask: if the author is assuming the 2 ideas are the same, and if there is actually a meaningful
difference b/w the 2
Sampling Fallacy - ANSWER to be valid, the following must be met:
1. accurate representation of the group it claims to represent. FLAW= unrepresentative of
respondents referenced in the conclusion
2. those surveyed must understand survey and not have motive to misrepresent themselves.
FLAW= respondents have a reason to lie or be biased.
3. conclusions made from survey must be intelligibly related to questions asked in survey
comparison fallacy - ANSWER 2 types:
1. FAULTY ANALOGY: making an analogy b/w 2 items that differ in crucial respects. Assuming bc
things have one thing in common, they have multiple things in common.
2. INCOMPLETE COMPARISON: when you aren't given enough info to know whether the things
being compared are actually comparable. (ex/ knowing a couple of negatives about 1 option is
not enough by itself to conclude that it's worse than an alternative)
ad hominem fallacy - ANSWER 1. attacking a persons character
2. inconsistent behavior (tries to refute argument bc a person acts inconsistently w their own
recommendations- hypocrite)
identify:
1. author criticizes persons background/motives
2. people being accused of bias or having selfish/bad motivations
3. author uses a persons bad character to undermine that persons argument
Exclusivity - ANSWER 1. "exhaustive list" fallacy: argument fails to establish that the list
of options is exhaustive (no other options available)
2. argument will falsely assume that 2 options are exclusive (cannot be some combination of
both)
identify:
1. strong conclusion (only, solely, wholly, entirely) indicates author overlooks other options
2. if options/factors are discussed, question whether other factors are forgotten
3. argument goes from one extreme to another but ignores the possibility that there is a middle
ground
causation fallacy - ANSWER 1. speaker assumes causation from correlation
2. infers, merely from a claim, that 2 phenomenon are associated, that one phenomenon
causes the other
identify:
1. look for cause/effect in stimulus
2. argument omits other possible causes (plausible alternate causes
3. reverse cause/effect: a way to point out alternate causes is to reverse the cause/effect
relationship... maybe the effect can be the cause
fallacy of the inverse/converse (sufficiency & necessity) - ANSWER argument will
confuse a sufficient condition with a necessary condition and vise versa
Equivocation Fallacy - ANSWER SHIFT IN MEANING
, take 2 separate/distinct ideas and try to pass them off as the same idea. done in 2 ways:
1. uses the same word to refer to 2 different concepts -- look for shifts in the meaning of the
same word
2. argument equates separate but distinct concepts -- author brings up something in
conclusion that wasn't brought up in the premises
Ask: if the author is assuming the 2 ideas are the same, and if there is actually a meaningful
difference b/w the 2
Sampling Fallacy - ANSWER to be valid, the following must be met:
1. accurate representation of the group it claims to represent. FLAW= unrepresentative of
respondents referenced in the conclusion
2. those surveyed must understand survey and not have motive to misrepresent themselves.
FLAW= respondents have a reason to lie or be biased.
3. conclusions made from survey must be intelligibly related to questions asked in survey
comparison fallacy - ANSWER 2 types:
1. FAULTY ANALOGY: making an analogy b/w 2 items that differ in crucial respects. Assuming bc
things have one thing in common, they have multiple things in common.
2. INCOMPLETE COMPARISON: when you aren't given enough info to know whether the things
being compared are actually comparable. (ex/ knowing a couple of negatives about 1 option is
not enough by itself to conclude that it's worse than an alternative)
ad hominem fallacy - ANSWER 1. attacking a persons character
2. inconsistent behavior (tries to refute argument bc a person acts inconsistently w their own
recommendations- hypocrite)
identify:
1. author criticizes persons background/motives
2. people being accused of bias or having selfish/bad motivations
3. author uses a persons bad character to undermine that persons argument
