Logical Fallacies Review Exam
Questions and Answers
Begging the Question (or circular logic) - -Example: "These
movies are popular because they make so much money. They
make a lot of money because people like them, and people like
them because they are so popular."
- Non Sequitur arguments don't follow a logical sequence - -
Example: "The rain came down so hard that Jennifer actually
called me."
- Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc (after this, therefore also this) - -
Example: "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 - -Example: "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 - -Example: Concluding that all
fraternities are party houses because you have seen three parties
at one fraternity.
- Red Herrings - -Example: "Winthrop should pave the lot behind
Dinkins. Besides, I can never find a parking space on campus
anyway."
- Equivocation - -Example: When representing himself in court, a
defendant said, " I have told the truth, and I have always heard
that the truth would set me free.
- Ignoring the Question - -Example: During a press conference, a
political candidate is asked a pointed, specific question about
some potentially illegal fund-raising activity. Instead of answering
Questions and Answers
Begging the Question (or circular logic) - -Example: "These
movies are popular because they make so much money. They
make a lot of money because people like them, and people like
them because they are so popular."
- Non Sequitur arguments don't follow a logical sequence - -
Example: "The rain came down so hard that Jennifer actually
called me."
- Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc (after this, therefore also this) - -
Example: "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 - -Example: "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 - -Example: Concluding that all
fraternities are party houses because you have seen three parties
at one fraternity.
- Red Herrings - -Example: "Winthrop should pave the lot behind
Dinkins. Besides, I can never find a parking space on campus
anyway."
- Equivocation - -Example: When representing himself in court, a
defendant said, " I have told the truth, and I have always heard
that the truth would set me free.
- Ignoring the Question - -Example: During a press conference, a
political candidate is asked a pointed, specific question about
some potentially illegal fund-raising activity. Instead of answering
