Entry 4
Argument structures
and fallacies
Item 1:
Henry went to the football game, and then he had a car accident. Therefore,
the football game caused his car accident.
=> post-hoc fallacy
Henry went to the football game and he had a
car accident
The action that Henry went to the football
preceded his car accident
The preceding action is the cause of the
following one
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The football game caused his car accident
(False premises)
The event “Henry went to the football game”
precedes “he had a car accident”. The conclusion that the football games caused
his car accident is false. The two events may have happened in that order but the
first action was not responsible for the second.
Item 2:
What fits your busy schedule better, exercising one hour a day or being
dead 24 hours a day?
ð
Fallacy of False Dilemma
Either he exercises one hour a day or he is
dead 24 hours a day
He does not exercise one hour a day
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He is dead 24 hours a day
In the picture, it is doctor’s advice to
patient. The doctor tells that either he exercises one hour a day or he is dead
24 hours a day. It means he only chooses one of tow choices. However, there are
some other options to patients and the doctor does not mention here. For
example, he does not take exercise everyday but he takes a special diet to keep
healthy.
Item 3:
I asked six of my friends what they
thought of the new spending restraints and they agreed it is a good idea. The
new restraints are therefore generally popular.
ð
Fallacy of hasty generalization
Six of his friends thought the new spending
restraints is a good idea
Most other people like six of his friends
People often do or carry out the good ideas
---------------------------------------------------------
The new restraints are therefore generally
popular
False premises
Six of his friends are a small number and it can
not represent the whole community. Therefore, the new restraints can not become
popular if he only rely on thoughts of six of his friends.
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1. Keith S.Folse & April Mud (2010), Great Essays, USA
dear my friend
Trả lờiXóai think your item 1 is too simple you should choose another complex and more interesting item
your 2 i thinhk it is not necessary to find premise and conclusion