(I did not get some answers correct on this categorizing fallacies assignment. It was graded but not with the correct answers. Can someone help me by telling me which type of fallacies the below statements are please so I can understand better. Thank you!)
1.My friend, who goes to college in another state, said girls from that sorority are mean. That girl we just met, Tracy, is from the same sorority, so I don’t trust her.
2.On a radio ad: “Have you been fatigued, irritable, moody? If these symptoms are ignored, you might become depressed or even suicidal! Ward off the blues by taking a pill proven to cheer you up. Millions of people have, and they’re glad they did!”
3.From one mom to another: “I can’t believe Shelia lets her kids watch that garbage! I always knew she wasn’t very strict. Now our kids will be over there watching that junk, too!”
4.Stomachache or not, how could you not eat your dinner after I spent all that time making it!
5.From a conspiracy theorist: “Come on, everyone knows that the government has lied to us in the past. This case isn’t any different.”
6.You’re going out with Carron? Well, she’s a nice person, but I hear her last relationship was a wreck! I’d be careful if I were you.
7.I don’t care if she is the top psychiatrist in the state! Her theory on sibling rivalry is extreme. How can we believe anything she says if she subscribes to theories of that nature?
8.It’s disgraceful that a member of the Elks Lodge would go out to fast food restaurants every night. The Elks believe in family values, including home-cooked meals.
Are you working with these fallacies?
Fallacy Types
Ad hominem
Group Think
Guilt Trip
Hasty Generalization
Poisoning the well
Post hoc
Red Herring
Scare Tactics
Strawman
Wishful Thinking
Sure, I can help explain the types of fallacies in each of the statements you provided.
1. This statement represents the fallacy of hasty generalization. The person is making a broad generalization about all the girls in a sorority based on the behavior of only one girl.
2. This statement is an example of the slippery slope fallacy. The advertisement is suggesting that if symptoms like fatigue and irritability are ignored, it will necessarily lead to depression or even suicide. This is an exaggeration and creates fear to convince people to take a particular product.
3. The fallacy in this statement is called guilt by association. The speaker assumes that because one mom allows her kids to watch "garbage," the other mom's kids will automatically be influenced by it as well.
4. This statement is an example of emotional blackmail. The speaker is using guilt or emotional manipulation to try and get the person to eat their dinner, even if they have a valid reason (like a stomachache) not to.
5. The fallacy in this statement is called the appeal to tradition. The conspiracy theorist is arguing that because the government has lied in the past, their current case must also be a lie. This logic relies solely on the claim that something has been done a certain way in the past, so it must continue to be done that way.
6. This statement represents the fallacy of irrelevant appeal to authority. The speaker is implying that because Carron had a bad relationship in the past, the person should be careful with their own relationship with Carron. However, the speaker's opinion about Carron's past relationship has no direct relevance to the present situation.
7. The fallacy in this statement is known as the ad hominem fallacy or attacking the person. The speaker dismisses the credibility and validity of the psychiatrist's theory based solely on their endorsement of a different theory. This disregards the possibility that the psychiatrist might have other valid perspectives or information.
8. This statement is an example of the fallacy of ad hominem tu quoque or hypocritical reasoning. The speaker criticizes a member of the Elks Lodge for going to fast food restaurants, arguing that it goes against the values of the organization. However, the personal behavior of an individual member does not necessarily invalidate the principles of the organization as a whole.
Understanding these fallacies can help you better evaluate the soundness and validity of arguments in everyday conversations, media, and other sources.