Critical Thinking Flashcards

Which of the following best describes the 'straw man' fallacy?

Answer: Misrepresenting someone's argument to make it easier to attack

The straw man fallacy involves distorting an opponent's argument into a weaker version that is easier to refute.

What is the purpose of identifying the main assumption in an argument?

Answer: To determine whether the argument would collapse if the assumption were false

Testing an argument's main assumption reveals how dependent the conclusion is on that unproven belief.

Which of the following weakens the argument that 'standardized tests are the best measure of student ability'?

Answer: Research shows standardized tests favor students with access to expensive test prep

Evidence of socioeconomic bias undermines the claim that standardized tests fairly measure ability.

When an argument appeals to popularity ('Everyone believes X, so X must be true'), what fallacy is being committed?

Answer: Ad populum

The ad populum fallacy claims something is true simply because many people believe it, which is not valid reasoning.

A student argues: 'We improved our study schedule, and our grades went up, so the new schedule caused the improvement.' What fallacy might this be?

Answer: Post hoc ergo propter hoc

Post hoc reasoning assumes that because one event followed another, the first caused the second, without ruling out other factors.

Which of the following is an example of deductive reasoning?

Answer: All mammals breathe air; dolphins are mammals; therefore dolphins breathe air

Deductive reasoning moves from a general rule to a specific conclusion with logical certainty.