CCTST Logical Fallacies 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A senator argues: 'We must either pass this bill immediately or our economy will collapse.' What fallacy is this?
- Ad hominem
- False dilemma (Correct answer)
- Slippery slope
- Appeal to authority
Correct answer: False dilemma
False dilemma (false dichotomy) presents only two options when more alternatives actually exist.
Question 2: "Everyone on social media is sharing this article, so it must be true." This is an example of:
- Appeal to tradition
- Bandwagon fallacy (Correct answer)
- Hasty generalization
- Straw man
Correct answer: Bandwagon fallacy
The bandwagon fallacy assumes something is true or correct because many people believe or do it.
Question 3: Which best describes the 'tu quoque' fallacy?
- Dismissing a claim because the person making it also violates it (Correct answer)
- Attacking the character of the opponent
- Drawing a broad conclusion from a small sample
- Using emotional language to bypass reasoning
Correct answer: Dismissing a claim because the person making it also violates it
Tu quoque ('you also') deflects criticism by pointing out the critic's own similar behavior rather than addressing the argument.
Question 4: A scientist's climate research is dismissed because she once worked for an oil company. Which fallacy is most clearly illustrated?
- Slippery slope
- Genetic fallacy (Correct answer)
- Equivocation
- Red herring
Correct answer: Genetic fallacy
The genetic fallacy judges an argument's validity based on its origin or source rather than its content.
Question 5: "We shouldn't trust John's opinion on immigration policy because he isn't a citizen." This commits which fallacy?
- Ad hominem (circumstantial) (Correct answer)
- Appeal to ignorance
- Begging the question
- False equivalence
Correct answer: Ad hominem (circumstantial)
Circumstantial ad hominem dismisses an argument based on the arguer's personal circumstances rather than the argument's merit.
Question 6: "No one has proven that ghosts don't exist, so ghosts must be real." This illustrates:
- Appeal to nature
- Appeal to ignorance (Correct answer)
- Straw man
- Hasty generalization
Correct answer: Appeal to ignorance
Appeal to ignorance (argumentum ad ignorantiam) treats the absence of disproof as proof of a claim.
Question 7: A politician reframes an opponent's nuanced immigration plan as 'open borders for criminals.' This is best classified as:
- Red herring
- Slippery slope
- Straw man (Correct answer)
- Equivocation
Correct answer: Straw man
The straw man fallacy misrepresents an opponent's position to make it easier to attack.
CCTST Logical Fallacies 2
A senator argues: 'We must either pass this bill immediately or our economy will collapse.' What fallacy is this?