Question

they perfectly understood the meaning of the language they used, and how it would be understood by others; and they knew that it would not in any part of the civilized world be supposed to embrace the negro race, which, by common consent, had been excluded from civilized governments and the family of nations, and doomed to slavery. - dred scott v. sandford, supreme court of the united states what type of fallacy or faulty reasoning is used in this passage? ad populum begging the claim genetic fallacy hasty generalization

Explanation:

• Ad populum: This fallacy appeals to popular opinion. The passage mentions "by common consent" which is an appeal to what is commonly thought (the popular view at the time) rather than a valid logical argument.
• Begging the claim: This is when the conclusion is assumed in the premise. The passage doesn't simply assume its main claim (about the negro race) without some form of (flawed) appeal to common view.
• Genetic fallacy: This is about judging something based on its origin. The passage isn't focused on the origin of the view about the negro race.
• Hasty generalization: This is making a broad generalization from a small sample. The passage isn't presenting a generalization from limited evidence but rather an appeal to common (flawed) belief.

Answer:

ad populum