Project Two: Analyzing Arguments and Identifying Logic Fallacies

This homework assignment focuses on the identification and analysis of logical fallacies within various arguments. The student answers multiple-choice questions to identify fallacies in given arguments, such as the fallacy of division, composition, ad ignorantiam, pejorative comparison, and affirming the consequent. The assignment also includes true/false questions testing the understanding of fallacies and their relationship to argument validity and conclusion truth. Finally, it requires the student to define a specific fallacy, 'Fallacy X,' based on provided examples, demonstrating an understanding of inductive reasoning and the role of emotional appeals in flawed arguments, including providing references to support their definition. This project aims to enhance critical thinking skills and the ability to evaluate the soundness of reasoning.

Project Two
Answer ALL the following questions. Some questions are multiple choice - in each case
exactly one of the several suggested answers is correct. Pick just one.
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Question 1. (2 POINTS) Does the following argument involve a fallacy? If you
think it does not, tick (d). If you think it does, which of (a), (b) or (c) might
reasonably be construed as the fallacy in this argument?
The Solar system consists of the Sun and the nine planets. The hottest place in the Solar
System is the Sun, which is a star located at its centre. Therefore, for each of the nine
planets it is true that its hottest part is its core.
(a) undistributed middle
(b) division
(c) composition
(d) no fallacy
Ans. (d)
Question 2. (2 POINTS) Does the following argument involve a fallacy? If you
think it does not, pick (d) below. If you think it does, which of (a), (b) or (c) might
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reasonably be construed as the fallacy in this argument?
There are several theories of cyclical time in the literature. Consider this one: ‘The
cyclical theory of time claims that each particular state of the universe will, after an
enormously long, though finite period of time, occur in exactly the same way in which it
has already occurred an infinite number of times in the past. […] In other words, cosmic
history may be regarded as an infinite series of identical cycles: what is happening now
has happened already an infinite number of times in the past and will happen again an
infinite number of times in the future.’1
Is there any reason to believe that this theory is false? Probably not. To begin with,
its truth is logically possible. Secondly, no evidence can be adduced against this theory:
because the cycles are enormously long we have no hope to survive till the next cycle so
that we might check whether it is identical to ours or not. These considerations lead one
to believe that the theory is true.
(a) denying the antecedent
(b) circularity
(c) ad ignorantiam (appeal to ignorance)
(d) no fallacy
Ans. (b)
Question 3. (2 POINTS) Does the following argument involve a fallacy? If you
think it does not, pick (d) below. If you think it does, which of (a), (b) or (c) might
1 ? Milic Capek, ‘The Theory of Eternal Recurrence in Modern Philosophy of Science, with Special
Reference to C. S. Peirce’, The Journal of Philosophy, Vol. 57, No. 9 (Apr. 28, 1960), pp. 289-296. The
quote is from p.289.
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reasonably be construed as the fallacy in this argument?
Stop complaining about poverty and homelessness in Australia. If you want to see real
poverty, you should go to India!
(a) fallacy of vagueness
(b) pejorative comparison
(c) false dichotomy
(d) no fallacy
Ans. (b)
Question 4. (2 POINTS) Does the following argument involve a fallacy? If you
think it does not, pick (d) below. If you think it does, which of (a), (b) or (c) might
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reasonably be construed as the fallacy in this argument?
Clearly my kidnappers intend to kill me. Why? If they were planning on killing me, it
wouldn’t matter if I knew where they were driving me to. And they did not blindfold me.
So they don’t care if I see where we are going.2
(a) affirming the consequent
(b) ad ignorantiam (appeal to ignorance)
(c) undistributed middle
(d) no fallacy
Ans. (b)
Question 5. (2 POINTS)
2
? The idea and part of the wording of this argument are borrowed from Carrie Vaughn, Kitty and
the Silver
Bullet, Grand Central Publishing, 2008, Ch.6.
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Does the following argument involve a fallacy? If you think it does not, pick (d)
below. If you think it does, which of (a), (b) or (c) might reasonably be construed as
the fallacy in this argument?
If I submit my project one second late, the teacher will not penalise me for lateness. If
that’s true, then if I submit my project two seconds late, she will not penalise me for
lateness. One second can never make the difference between ‘late’ and ‘not late’; it
follows that no matter how many seconds late my project is, it will never be penalised!
(a) fallacy of vagueness
(b) equivocation
(c) denying the antecedent
(d) no fallacy
Ans. (d)
Question 6. (2 POINTS)
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Does the following argument involve a fallacy? If you think it does not, pick (d)
below. If you think it does, which of (a), (b) or (c) might reasonably be construed as
the fallacy in this argument?
If you water the plants assiduously, your garden will be healthy. Your garden is healthy;
hence you must have watered the plants assiduously.
(a) undistributed middle
(b) denying the antecedent
(c) affirming the consequent
(d) no fallacy: deductively valid
Ans. (c)
Question 7. (2 POINTS)
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Does the following argument involve a fallacy? If you think it does not, pick (d)
below. If you think it does, which of (a), (b) or (c) might reasonably be construed as
the fallacy in this argument?
David is not a baby, and thus must not be querulous, seeing as all babies are querulous.
(a) undistributed middle
(b) denying the antecedent
(c) affirming the consequent
(d) no fallacy; deductively valid
Ans. (b)
Question 8. (2 POINTS)
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Does the following argument involve a fallacy? If you think it does not, pick (d)
below. If you think it does, which of (a), (b) or (c) might reasonably be construed as
the fallacy in this argument?
David is not a baby, since all babies are querulous, and David is not querulous.
(a) undistributed middle
(b) denying the antecedent
(c) affirming the consequent
(d) no fallacy; deductively valid
Ans. (d)
Question 9. (2 POINTS)
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Does the following argument involve a fallacy? If you think it does not, pick (d)
below. If you think it does, which of (a), (b) or (c) might reasonably be construed as
the fallacy in this argument?
Nobody is totally unnoticed - everyone is noticed by someone. It follows that there is a
person who notices everyone in the world!
(a) fallacy of vagueness
(b) circularity
(c) ambiguity of scope
(d) no fallacy
Ans. (c)
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Question 10. (2 POINTS)
Does the following argument involve a fallacy? If you think it does not, pick (d)
below. If you think it does, which of (a), (b) or (c) might reasonably be construed as
the fallacy in this argument?
Abortion is wrong, since the termination of a pregnancy is never morally justified.
(a) fallacy of vagueness
(b) equivocation
(c) circularity
(d) no fallacy
Ans. (d)
Question 11. (2 POINTS)
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True or false: If an argument commits a fallacy, it must be invalid.
(T)
(F) False
Question 12. (2 POINTS)
True or false: If an argument is invalid, it must commit a fallacy.
(T) True
(F)
Question 13. (2 POINTS)
True or false: If an argument commits a fallacy, the conclusion must be false.
(T)
(F) False
Question 14. (2 POINTS)
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True or false: If an argument commits a fallacy, at least one premise must be false.
(T) True
(F)
Question 15. (5 POINTS)
All the four arguments (a), (b), (c) and (d) cited below can be reasonably
interpreted as involving the same kind of fallacy. Call it ‘Fallacy X’. Note that this
fallacy was not discussed or even mentioned in the text of Topic Two – The pathology
of reasoning, or in the lectures.
On the basis of these four examples, develop a one-paragraph definition of
Fallacy X.
The marker would be equally satisfied with any format of your definition. For
instance, you may wish to consider this format: ‘To reason in such and such a way is
to commit the Fallacy X.’
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