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82
LOGICAL FALLACIES: THE IMPOSTORS
Practice
Slippery Slope
Read the following arguments carefully. Are they using
logic (L) or slippery slope (SS) to convince you?
If scientists are allowed to experiment with cloning
humans, next thing you know, they ll be mass produc-
____ 6. If we raise the legal driving age to eighteen,
ing people on assembly lines.
Right? then there will be less car accidents on the
Well, maybe. But probably not, and definitely not
roads. People will feel safer on the road, and
for certain. This type of logical fallacy often called
car insurance rates for everyone will decrease
slippery slope presents an if/then scenario. It argues
significantly.
that if X happens, then Y will follow. This next thing
you know argument has one major flaw, however: X
____ 7. If all employers require their employees to
doesn t necessarily lead to Y. When you hear someone
take a flu shot, then less people would take sick
make a claim in this format, you need to use your crit-
days. This would result in increased produc-
ical thinking and reasoning skills. You need to carefully
tivity for the nation as a whole.
consider whether or not there s a logical relationship
between X and Y.
____ 8. I wouldn t drop this class if I were you. If you
If scientists were to experiment with cloning
do, you ll be three credits behind and you ll
human beings, for example, does that necessarily mean
have to take an extra class next semester to
that humans would be mass produced on production
graduate on time.
lines? Definitely not. First of all, it may prove impossi-
ble to clone humans. Second, if it is possible, it s a long
Answers
way from the production of a single clone to assembly-
6. SS. Raising the driving age to eighteen does not
line production of clones. And third, if assembly-line
necessarily mean that there would be less car
cloning is possible, it may even be forbidden. So,
accidents on the roads. First of all, we can t
though the thought of mass-produced human beings
be sure that the majority of car accidents that
is frightening, it s not logical to restrict experiments
take place involve drivers under eighteen.
because we re afraid of consequences that may not hap-
Second, even if there were less car accidents
pen. More logical reasons need to be presented to jus-
as a result of the new driving age, it wouldn t
tify limiting that kind of experimentation.
necessarily result in lower insurance rates
for everyone.
7. SS. Again, X doesn t necessarily lead to Y. There s
no reason to believe that taking flu shots will
increase productivity. Also, people can get
sick for other reasons, and flu shots might
not help in those cases.
8. L. This is a good, logical reason not to drop
the class.
83
LOGICAL FALLACIES: THE IMPOSTORS
Practice
Circular Reasoning
See if you can recognize circular reasoning in the fol-
lowing arguments. If the argument is logical, write an
You re in a meeting when you decide to bring up what
L in the blank. If the argument is circular, write a C in
you think is an important issue. When you re fin-
the blank.
ished, your boss turns to you and says, Well, that s
not important.
____ 9. I know he s telling the truth because he s not
Why not? you ask.
Because it just doesn t matter, he replies. lying.
Your boss has just committed a very common
____10. He should have a break. He deserves it.
logical fallacy called circular reasoning (also known as
begging the question). Circular reasoning is a very
____11. Give him a break. He s been working nonstop
appropriate name, because that s what this false logic
for eight hours.
does: It goes in a circle. Notice how your boss s argu-
ment doubles back on itself. In other words, his con-
____12. It s the right thing to do, because this way, no
clusion and premise say essentially the same thing:
one will get hurt.
Conclusion: That s not important.
____13. We believe this is the best choice because it s
Premise: It doesn t matter.
the right thing to do.
Instead of progressing logically from conclusion to evi-
Answers
dence, the argument gets stuck at the conclusion. Like
9. C. This argument doubles back on itself he s
a dog chasing its tail, it goes nowhere. Here s another
not lying doesn t say any more than what s
example:
already been said in the conclusion.
10. C. Notice the premise doesn t give any reason for
You know that s not good for you; it isn t healthy.
giving him a break. He should have one and
he deserves it are the same thing.
Notice how the premise, it isn t healthy, is no support
11. L. The premise here offers a real reason. If he s
for the conclusion, that s not good for you rather,
been working eight hours nonstop, he does
it simply restates it. Again, the argument goes nowhere.
deserve it.
Circular reasoning can be particularly tricky
12. L. Preventing people from getting hurt is a good
because a conclusion that doubles back on itself often supporting premise for the conclusion here.
13. C. Unlike number 12, the premise and the con-
sounds strong. That is, by restating the conclusion, you
clusion here say essentially the same thing.
reinforce the idea that you re trying to convey. But
you re not offering any logical reasons to accept that
argument. When you hear someone make a claim that
follows this format, look for a logical premise to sup-
port the conclusion you probably won t find one.
84
LOGICAL FALLACIES: THE IMPOSTORS
As you can see, this approach is neither logical nor
Two Wrongs Make a Right
fair. It can also create a dangerous situation out of a per-
fectly normal one. Two wrongs that are built on a
Your friend has been having problems with her
maybe even a probably don t make a right.
boyfriend. What happened? you ask.
Well, he found out I went to Marco s party with-
Practice
out him, she replies.
14. Put a check mark next to the arguments below
Why did you do that?
that use the two wrongs make a right fallacy.
He told Mary that he might go to Josie s party
a. Go ahead, tell your boss what you saw Edgar
without me. So why can t I go to a party without him? [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl wyciskamy.pev.pl
82
LOGICAL FALLACIES: THE IMPOSTORS
Practice
Slippery Slope
Read the following arguments carefully. Are they using
logic (L) or slippery slope (SS) to convince you?
If scientists are allowed to experiment with cloning
humans, next thing you know, they ll be mass produc-
____ 6. If we raise the legal driving age to eighteen,
ing people on assembly lines.
Right? then there will be less car accidents on the
Well, maybe. But probably not, and definitely not
roads. People will feel safer on the road, and
for certain. This type of logical fallacy often called
car insurance rates for everyone will decrease
slippery slope presents an if/then scenario. It argues
significantly.
that if X happens, then Y will follow. This next thing
you know argument has one major flaw, however: X
____ 7. If all employers require their employees to
doesn t necessarily lead to Y. When you hear someone
take a flu shot, then less people would take sick
make a claim in this format, you need to use your crit-
days. This would result in increased produc-
ical thinking and reasoning skills. You need to carefully
tivity for the nation as a whole.
consider whether or not there s a logical relationship
between X and Y.
____ 8. I wouldn t drop this class if I were you. If you
If scientists were to experiment with cloning
do, you ll be three credits behind and you ll
human beings, for example, does that necessarily mean
have to take an extra class next semester to
that humans would be mass produced on production
graduate on time.
lines? Definitely not. First of all, it may prove impossi-
ble to clone humans. Second, if it is possible, it s a long
Answers
way from the production of a single clone to assembly-
6. SS. Raising the driving age to eighteen does not
line production of clones. And third, if assembly-line
necessarily mean that there would be less car
cloning is possible, it may even be forbidden. So,
accidents on the roads. First of all, we can t
though the thought of mass-produced human beings
be sure that the majority of car accidents that
is frightening, it s not logical to restrict experiments
take place involve drivers under eighteen.
because we re afraid of consequences that may not hap-
Second, even if there were less car accidents
pen. More logical reasons need to be presented to jus-
as a result of the new driving age, it wouldn t
tify limiting that kind of experimentation.
necessarily result in lower insurance rates
for everyone.
7. SS. Again, X doesn t necessarily lead to Y. There s
no reason to believe that taking flu shots will
increase productivity. Also, people can get
sick for other reasons, and flu shots might
not help in those cases.
8. L. This is a good, logical reason not to drop
the class.
83
LOGICAL FALLACIES: THE IMPOSTORS
Practice
Circular Reasoning
See if you can recognize circular reasoning in the fol-
lowing arguments. If the argument is logical, write an
You re in a meeting when you decide to bring up what
L in the blank. If the argument is circular, write a C in
you think is an important issue. When you re fin-
the blank.
ished, your boss turns to you and says, Well, that s
not important.
____ 9. I know he s telling the truth because he s not
Why not? you ask.
Because it just doesn t matter, he replies. lying.
Your boss has just committed a very common
____10. He should have a break. He deserves it.
logical fallacy called circular reasoning (also known as
begging the question). Circular reasoning is a very
____11. Give him a break. He s been working nonstop
appropriate name, because that s what this false logic
for eight hours.
does: It goes in a circle. Notice how your boss s argu-
ment doubles back on itself. In other words, his con-
____12. It s the right thing to do, because this way, no
clusion and premise say essentially the same thing:
one will get hurt.
Conclusion: That s not important.
____13. We believe this is the best choice because it s
Premise: It doesn t matter.
the right thing to do.
Instead of progressing logically from conclusion to evi-
Answers
dence, the argument gets stuck at the conclusion. Like
9. C. This argument doubles back on itself he s
a dog chasing its tail, it goes nowhere. Here s another
not lying doesn t say any more than what s
example:
already been said in the conclusion.
10. C. Notice the premise doesn t give any reason for
You know that s not good for you; it isn t healthy.
giving him a break. He should have one and
he deserves it are the same thing.
Notice how the premise, it isn t healthy, is no support
11. L. The premise here offers a real reason. If he s
for the conclusion, that s not good for you rather,
been working eight hours nonstop, he does
it simply restates it. Again, the argument goes nowhere.
deserve it.
Circular reasoning can be particularly tricky
12. L. Preventing people from getting hurt is a good
because a conclusion that doubles back on itself often supporting premise for the conclusion here.
13. C. Unlike number 12, the premise and the con-
sounds strong. That is, by restating the conclusion, you
clusion here say essentially the same thing.
reinforce the idea that you re trying to convey. But
you re not offering any logical reasons to accept that
argument. When you hear someone make a claim that
follows this format, look for a logical premise to sup-
port the conclusion you probably won t find one.
84
LOGICAL FALLACIES: THE IMPOSTORS
As you can see, this approach is neither logical nor
Two Wrongs Make a Right
fair. It can also create a dangerous situation out of a per-
fectly normal one. Two wrongs that are built on a
Your friend has been having problems with her
maybe even a probably don t make a right.
boyfriend. What happened? you ask.
Well, he found out I went to Marco s party with-
Practice
out him, she replies.
14. Put a check mark next to the arguments below
Why did you do that?
that use the two wrongs make a right fallacy.
He told Mary that he might go to Josie s party
a. Go ahead, tell your boss what you saw Edgar
without me. So why can t I go to a party without him? [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]