I am stuck on this, please help!
What type of fallacy is this sentence..
The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco ought to be closed down. After all, just look at all the suicides that have occurred there.
I have looked several times, but cant seem to make a decision!
Did you look through these to figure it out?
http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/fallacies.html#3
Thanks, that was helpful. Is is Post hoc?
Yes, that's what I think it is, too.
=)
Based on the given sentence, the fallacy used is called the "Appeal to Pity" fallacy. This fallacy occurs when someone tries to make a persuasive argument by evoking pity or sympathy instead of presenting logical reasoning or evidence.
To identify this fallacy, you can take note of the following indicators:
1. Emotional appeal: The argument focuses on the emotions associated with the suicides that have occurred at the Golden Gate Bridge rather than providing logical reasons for its closure.
2. Lack of evidence: The argument uses the existence of suicides as a basis for closing down the bridge, without offering any data, statistics, or logical analysis to support the conclusion.
3. Irrelevance: The fact that suicides have occurred at the bridge does not necessarily justify or imply that the bridge should be closed down. It is not a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
Remember, when identifying fallacies, it is essential to analyze the logical structure and reasoning behind an argument rather than just relying on emotional appeal or personal opinions.