Question

what is a fallacy?
a. a fallacy is a fact or assumption used in an argument to support a conclusion.
b. a fallacy is a set of facts or assumptions, called premises, to support a conclusion.
c. a fallacy is the study of the methods and principles of reasoning.
d. a fallacy is a deceptive argument. it is an argument in which the conclusion is not well supported by the premises
which of the following are fallacies? describe how each choice is deceptive. select all that apply
a. company a makes the best pickup trucks in the world. more people drive company a pickups than any other light truck. this argument is deceptive because the fact that a large number of people buy company a pickup trucks does not necessarily mean that they are the best trucks.
b. the patient is still breathing. he must be still alive. this argument is deceptive because it makes a generalization about people who are breathing. the premise has nothing to do with being alive.
c. i placed the quartz crystal on my forehead, and in five minutes my headache was gone. the crystal made my headache go away. this argument is deceptive because it claims that because one thing happened before another, the first event caused the second event, but it doesnt prove that there is any connection between the two events.
d. society has an obligation to provide health insurance because health care is a right of citizenship. this argument is deceptive because the premise and conclusion essentially say the same thing.

Explanation:

• Option A: Just because many people drive Company A pickups doesn't mean they are the best. Popularity doesn't equate to quality.
• Option B: Breathing is a sign of being alive. This is not a fallacy.
• Option C: Correlation (placing crystal and headache going away) doesn't imply causation. There could be other factors.
• Option D: The premise (health care is a right) and conclusion (society should provide health insurance) are circular.

Answer:

A. Company A makes the best pickup trucks in the world. More people drive Company A pickups than any other light truck. This argument is deceptive because the fact that a large number of people buy Company A pickup trucks does not necessarily mean that they are the best trucks.
C. I placed the quartz crystal on my forehead, and in five minutes my headache was gone. The crystal made my headache go away. This argument is deceptive because it claims that because one thing happened before another, the first event caused the second event, but it doesn't prove that there is any connection between the two events.
D. Society has an obligation to provide health insurance because health care is a right of citizenship. This argument is deceptive because the premise and conclusion essentially say the same thing.