Could someone please check over my homework to ensure if i did it correctly.
Checkpoint :Identifying Fallacies
For this checkpoint, you will only be using the following fallacies.
Ad hominem (inconsistency)
Begging the question
false dilemma
Straw man
You must choose which category the statement is in and Explain why you think this fallacy exists in the example.
2. Letter to the editor: "Andrea Keene's selective morality is once again showing through in her July 15 letter. This time she expresses her abhorrence of abortion. But how we see only what we choose to see! I wonder if any of the anti abortionists have considered the widespread use of fertility drugs as the moral equivalent of abortion, and, if they have why they haven't come out against them, too. The use of these drugs frequently results in multiple births, which leads to the death of one of the infants, often after an agonizing struggle for survival. According to the rules of the pro-lifers, isn't this murder?
Answer
Ad hominem(inconsistency)> The reason why I believe this statement to be an ad hominem (inconsistency) is because the author is saying “ you too” should the anti abortionist speak on the fertility drugs.
3. In one of her columns, Abigail Van Buren printed the letter of "I'd rather be a widow."The letter writer, a divorcee, complained about widows who said they had a hard time coping. Far better, she wrote , to be a widow than to be a divorcee, who are all "rejects" who have been "publicly dumped" and are avoided " like they have leprosy." Abby recognized the pseudo reasoning for what it was, though she did not call it by our name. What is our name for it?
Answer
Ad hominem (inconsistency)> The reason why I believe this statement to be an ad hominem(inconsistency) is because the writer is basically saying that she would rather be a widow than a divorcee due to the embarrassment.
5. Letter to the editor: “Once again the Park Commission is considering closing North Park Drive for the sake of a few joggers and bicyclists. These so-called fitness enthusiasts would evidently have us give to them for their own private use every last square inch of Walnut Grove. Then anytime anyone wanted a picnic, he would have to park and carry everything in- ice chests, chairs, maybe even grandma. I certainly hope the commission keeps the entire park open for everyone to use."
Answer
Straw man> the reason why I believe that this is a straw man fallacy is because the writer exaggerates about carrying everything in – icechests, chairs maybe even grandma.
6." Some Christian - and other- groups are protesting against the placing, on federal property near the White house, of a set of plastic figurines representing a devout Jewish family in ancient Judea. The protesters would of course deny that they are driven by any anti-Semitic motivation. Still we wonder: Would they raise the same objections (of unconstitutionality, etc.) if the scene depicted a modern, secularized Gentile family?"
Answer
Begging the question> The reason why I believe this statement to be a begging the question fallacy is because the author is making a claim about Christians and their beliefs.
8. From a letter to the editor: “The counties of Michigan clearly need the ability to raise additional sources of revenue, not only to meet the demands of growth but also to maintain existing levels of service. For without these sources those demands will not be met, and it will be impossible to maintain services even at present levels."
Answer
Begging the question> the reason why I believe this statement is because the author is assuming that demands will not be met.
9. In February 1992, a representative of the Catholic Church in Puerto Rico gave a radio interview (broadcast on National public Radio) in which he said that the Church was against the use of condoms. Even though the rate of AIDS infection in Puerto Rico is much higher than on the U.S. mainland, the spokesman said that the Church could not support the use of condoms because they are not absolutely reliable in preventing a person from contracting AIDS, then the Church could support their use."
Answer
False dilemma> The reason why I believe this excerpt to be false dilemma is because the author is not considering that condoms can prevent an individual from contracting AIDS
It's the Straw Man fallacy.
The Catholic Church is not against condoms because of their inability to prevent disease, it is against them because of their ability to prevent pregnancy.
He is correct that condoms aren't 100% effective in preventing AIDS, but he dissembles by saying that this is relevant to the Church being against their use.
It is a straw man argument because even if you were to knock that one down, they'd put up another one anyway.
Based on your examples, it seems like you have correctly identified the fallacies. However, I would like to provide a more detailed explanation of each fallacy to further clarify why they exist in the examples:
1. Ad hominem (inconsistency): This fallacy occurs when someone attacks the person making an argument instead of addressing the argument itself. In the first example, the writer is attacking Andrea Keene's selective morality by questioning her stance on abortion and fertility drugs. The writer is essentially saying that if anti-abortionists are against abortion, they should also be against fertility drugs, implying inconsistency in their beliefs.
2. Straw man: This fallacy occurs when someone misrepresents or exaggerates someone else's argument to make it easier to attack or refute. In the fifth example, the writer is exaggerating the effect of closing North Park Drive by suggesting that it would inconvenience everyone who wants a picnic. This misrepresentation of the joggers and bicyclists' request creates a straw man argument.
3. Begging the question: This fallacy occurs when someone assumes their conclusion is true before presenting any evidence or valid reasoning to support it. In the sixth example, the author assumes that Christian groups protesting against the plastic figurines representing a Jewish family near the White House would have the same objections if the scene depicted a modern, secularized Gentile family. The author assumes that the objections are based on anti-Semitic motivations, begging the question.
4. False dilemma: This fallacy occurs when someone presents a situation as if there are only two possible options, ignoring the possibility of other alternatives. In the ninth example, the Catholic Church representative argues against the use of condoms in preventing AIDS by claiming they are not absolutely reliable. However, this ignores the fact that condoms can still significantly reduce the risk of contracting AIDS, thus creating a false dilemma between absolute reliability and complete inefficiency.
Overall, your responses demonstrate a good understanding of these fallacies and their presence in the given examples. Well done!