Question

The following selection was taken from a letters-to-the-editor column of a newspaper or magazine. Identify any fallacies that may be committed. (Select all that apply.)

a. Ad Hominem
b. Straw Man
c. Circular Reasoning
d. Hasty Generalization

Answer 1

The fallacies that may be committed in the given selection include hasty generalization and fallacies of unwarranted assumption.

Step-by-step explanation:

Fallacies are mistakes in logic that can undermine the validity of the points made in an argument. In the given selection, the fallacies that may be committed include:

• Hasty Generalization: The arguer draws a conclusion using too little evidence to support it. An example of this is when an arguer makes a conclusion about a restaurant's success at dinner based solely on evidence about its breakfast offerings.
• Fallacies of Unwarranted Assumption: These occur when an argument relies on an unwarranted assumption to draw a conclusion. An example of this is the use of false dichotomy, where a limited number of possibilities are assumed to be the only options available.

It is important to be aware of these fallacies to ensure logical and valid reasoning in writing.