Part 1: Instructions: The following arguments commit one of the fallacies from this list: Ad hominem Ad ignoratiam Ad misericordiam Ad populum Begging the question/circular argument/petitio principii Complex question Equivocation False cause False dilemma State the name of the fallacy and explain how the argument commits that fallacy (don’t just repeat the definition of the fallacy). a. William F. Buckley, Jr., a conservative writer, argued for the legalization of drugs, including cocaine and heroin. But Buckley was just a wealthy, elitist intellectual who was out of touch with the people most affected by drugs. Who cares what he thinks? –Christopher Wren b. The death penalty is wrong because it’s murder. c. Everything that a person has ever done is caused by that person’s own desires and motivations. In other words, everything that a person does is done to satisfy the person’s own desires. Acting to satisfy one’s own desires is selfish. Good people are not selfish—at least not all the time. Thus, at the end of the day, no one is really a good person. d. Atheists are hypocrites. Atheism is the view that there are no gods. But everyone, even the atheists themselves, have gods—things in their life that they elevate, worship, praise, and generally pour all of their emotional energy into. How can someone who has gods of his or her own say that there are no gods? You just can’t do it. Part 2. Consider the following fallacies. Loaded language Non sequitur Overgeneralizing Overlooking alternatives Persuasive definition Poisoning the well Post hoc ergo propter hoc Red herring Straw man Identify the fallacy committed by each of the following arguments. As in part 1, explain how the argument commits the fallacy. a. “I’ve told you before about JournoList, a listserv for mainstream journalists. Well, I’ve been reading some of the emails from that list, and let me tell you: it just proves that all mainstream journalists are liberals out to “get” conservatives. For instance, one JournoList member sent an email to the list that says—and this is just for starters—that it’s “necessary to raise the cost on the right of going after the left.” And then the email talks about “rhetorically” smashing a “rightwinger’s” head through a window. Talk about bias!” Sarah Palin 2010 b. “Some people are worried because of what they’ve heard from obstructionists who want nothing more than to make health care reform impossible so that they can win political points, even if that harms the American people. These critics say that my health care plan will lead to “death panels”, or that it will cover insurance for illegal immigrants. Those claims are just not true.” Barack Obama 2009 c. Ever since the city started their new Bear Patrol, there haven’t been any bear attacks. I guess the Bear Patrol really prevents bear attacks! –From the Simpsons d. A politician is someone who tells you what you want to hear and then does whatever he or she wants to do. That’s why politicians can’t be trusted. –Harry Browne 2004 Part 3. Construct an argument of your own for each of the fallacies listed below. That is, construct your own argument that commits fallacy 1. Then construct another argument that commits fallacy 2, and so on. For each argument, explain how that argument commits that fallacy. a. Strawman b. Equivocation c. Post hoc ergo propter hoc d. Begging the question e. Ad Hominem f. Ad ignorantiam g. Red Herring. Soucres not needed. And don’t palagrise.
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