Fallacies
Assuming that just because one event follows another, the first event cause the second.
Post hoc ergo propter hoc
When someone claims that two situations are the same when they are not
False equivalence
"If we allow students to redo one assignment, soon they’ll demand to retake entire courses, and eventually, no one will take grades seriously." What fallacy does this statement represent?
Reductio ad absurdum
In a political ad, a candidate claims:
"I’m the best choice for mayor because no other candidate is as qualified as I am."
Begging the question
Identify the rhetorical device used in this phrase:
"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
Chiasmus
Misrepresenting an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack
Strawman
Assuming that something is correct because it has always been done that way
Appeal to tradition
"We shouldn’t listen to Alex’s proposal on climate change because Alex is just a high school dropout." What fallacy is being committed?
Ad hominem
A marketing analyst claims:
"Three people on social media said they love our product. Clearly, it’s the most popular item on the market right now."
What fallacy does this statement illustrate?
Hasty generalization
"We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills."
Which rhetorical device is used here?
Anaphora
This fallacy involves presenting only two choices when more options exist?
Insisting that continuing a failing course of action is justified because of past investments
Sunk cost
"Either you’re with us, or you’re against us." What fallacy does this statement exemplify?
False Dilemma
In a debate about extraterrestrial life, a participant argues:
"Scientists haven’t discovered intelligent life on other planets yet, so it’s clear we’re alone in the universe."
What fallacy does this argument commit?
Appeal to ignorance
The phrase "What you see is what you get" contains which rhetorical device?
Parallelism
Attacking the person making an argument instead of addressing their argument itself
Ad hominem
Asking a question that contains an unproven assumption
Loaded question
"The stock market crashed right after the new president took office. Clearly, the president’s policies caused the crash." What fallacy is present here?
Post hoc ergo propter hoc
A climate change skeptic argues:
"Environmentalists want us to stop using all cars immediately and go back to living like cavemen. That’s absurd!"
What fallacy is present in this statement?
Strawman
The phrase "hope for the best, prepare for the worst" uses what rhetorical device?
Antithesis
Diverting attention from the main issue by bringing up an unrelated topic
Red herring
Reductio ad absurdum
Interviewer: "Do you think the mayor is intentionally ignoring the homeless crisis in our city?"
This question commits which fallacy?
Loaded question
A debate participant says:
"If you don’t agree with this new healthcare bill, you clearly don’t care about people’s lives. And besides, everyone knows this is how healthcare has been handled for decades, so why change it now?"
Which fallacies are present in this statement?
False Dilemma and Appeal to Tradition
"Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering." This phrase uses what rhetorical device?
Anadiplosis