REASON AND EVIDENCE D265 EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
validity - Answer-If premises are true, the conclusion must be true. EX. P1) Rosie was
born in Cali. P2) Everyone from Cali likes biscuits C) Rosie likes biscuits
Soundness - Answer-premises are true and conclusion makes sense EX. P1) Whales
dont have fur. P2) Whales are mammals. C) Therefore, not all mammals have fur
Cogency - Answer-cogent if its Strong & Premises are true. EX. most crows seen are
black. Therefore, the next crow seen will be black.
Formal Fallacy - Answer-argument with a bad structure
informal fallacy - Answer-content of argument is the issue
modus pones - Answer-if a, then b
a
therefore, b EX. if Today is Tuesday, then John will go to work. Today is Tuesday.
Therefore John will go to work.
modus tollens - Answer-if a, then b
not a
therefore, not b EX. If im happy, then i smile. Im not smiling, therefore im not happy
fallacy fallacy - Answer-someone notices your argument contains a fallacy, leads them
to believe your claim is false. EX. your argument contains a straw man fallacy so i think
youre lying.
ad hominem fallacy - Answer-attacking person, not the argument EX. 1) cats are smart
animals. 2. well you're stupid so i dont believe you.
genetic fallacy - Answer-arguer critiques origin of claim or argument rather than the
argument EX. my parents told me that God exists, therefore, God exist.
straw figure or straw man fallacy - Answer-arguing against a false version of someones
actual argument. EX. 1) id rather have a dog than a cat. 2) why do you hate cats?
red herring fallacy - Answer-talk about one thing, but end up talking about another EX.
you are home late, you distract parents by asking how the weather is.
evasive red herring - Answer-responding to a question with something off the topic
, Appeal to Authority fallacy - Answer-believing an argument because of someone's
authority EX. kid says cussing is wrong cause his mom said so.
Appeal to Force - Answer-uses threat to make someone believe argument EX. cats are
cute, you better believe me or ill punch you in the face.
Ad Populum fallacy - Answer-believing an argument because it's popular EX. everyone
drives over the speed limit, so its should not be against the law.
Appeal to Consequences fallacy - Answer-statement must be T or F based on the
consequences if would lead to. EX. stock market will go up this year. A lot of people
would lose money if it didn't.
Equivocation fallacy - Answer-using same word in more than one way. Causing a
misleading argument.
example: children are a headache. Aspirin will make headaches go away. Therefore,
aspirin will make children go away
appeal to ignorance - Answer-Cannot prove that proposition A is true or false. So could
be true or could be false. EX. UFOs havent came to earth, so i believe that they have.
Slippery Slope - Answer-one thing leads to another EX. if student redo test, theyll want
to redo all test.
Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy - Answer-someone chooses an argument based on what
they want to believe, only use evidence to support their side
post hoc ergo propter hoc - Answer-because an event occurred first, it must have
caused this later event.
EX. Every time that rooster crows, the sun comes up. that rooster must be very powerful
and important.
hasty generalization fallacy - Answer-making a broad judgment of a large group with
little evidence EX. my brothers never help with chores, all men are useless with chores.
false dilemma (black/white) - Answer-two options are presented as the only two options
EX. you are for us, or you are against us
Burden Shifting - Answer-shifting burden of proof to arguer EX. prove to me its true or
not.
Basic Concepts - Answer-1<-----2
1 is true "why?" "because of 2"
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
validity - Answer-If premises are true, the conclusion must be true. EX. P1) Rosie was
born in Cali. P2) Everyone from Cali likes biscuits C) Rosie likes biscuits
Soundness - Answer-premises are true and conclusion makes sense EX. P1) Whales
dont have fur. P2) Whales are mammals. C) Therefore, not all mammals have fur
Cogency - Answer-cogent if its Strong & Premises are true. EX. most crows seen are
black. Therefore, the next crow seen will be black.
Formal Fallacy - Answer-argument with a bad structure
informal fallacy - Answer-content of argument is the issue
modus pones - Answer-if a, then b
a
therefore, b EX. if Today is Tuesday, then John will go to work. Today is Tuesday.
Therefore John will go to work.
modus tollens - Answer-if a, then b
not a
therefore, not b EX. If im happy, then i smile. Im not smiling, therefore im not happy
fallacy fallacy - Answer-someone notices your argument contains a fallacy, leads them
to believe your claim is false. EX. your argument contains a straw man fallacy so i think
youre lying.
ad hominem fallacy - Answer-attacking person, not the argument EX. 1) cats are smart
animals. 2. well you're stupid so i dont believe you.
genetic fallacy - Answer-arguer critiques origin of claim or argument rather than the
argument EX. my parents told me that God exists, therefore, God exist.
straw figure or straw man fallacy - Answer-arguing against a false version of someones
actual argument. EX. 1) id rather have a dog than a cat. 2) why do you hate cats?
red herring fallacy - Answer-talk about one thing, but end up talking about another EX.
you are home late, you distract parents by asking how the weather is.
evasive red herring - Answer-responding to a question with something off the topic
, Appeal to Authority fallacy - Answer-believing an argument because of someone's
authority EX. kid says cussing is wrong cause his mom said so.
Appeal to Force - Answer-uses threat to make someone believe argument EX. cats are
cute, you better believe me or ill punch you in the face.
Ad Populum fallacy - Answer-believing an argument because it's popular EX. everyone
drives over the speed limit, so its should not be against the law.
Appeal to Consequences fallacy - Answer-statement must be T or F based on the
consequences if would lead to. EX. stock market will go up this year. A lot of people
would lose money if it didn't.
Equivocation fallacy - Answer-using same word in more than one way. Causing a
misleading argument.
example: children are a headache. Aspirin will make headaches go away. Therefore,
aspirin will make children go away
appeal to ignorance - Answer-Cannot prove that proposition A is true or false. So could
be true or could be false. EX. UFOs havent came to earth, so i believe that they have.
Slippery Slope - Answer-one thing leads to another EX. if student redo test, theyll want
to redo all test.
Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy - Answer-someone chooses an argument based on what
they want to believe, only use evidence to support their side
post hoc ergo propter hoc - Answer-because an event occurred first, it must have
caused this later event.
EX. Every time that rooster crows, the sun comes up. that rooster must be very powerful
and important.
hasty generalization fallacy - Answer-making a broad judgment of a large group with
little evidence EX. my brothers never help with chores, all men are useless with chores.
false dilemma (black/white) - Answer-two options are presented as the only two options
EX. you are for us, or you are against us
Burden Shifting - Answer-shifting burden of proof to arguer EX. prove to me its true or
not.
Basic Concepts - Answer-1<-----2
1 is true "why?" "because of 2"
