Question

A chess champion like me should naturally be mayor. Everyone is wearing that jacket, so it must be cool. Anyone who agrees with my opponent is a witch. People who hate riding the bus must love traffic. Which of the above is a straw man fallacy?

A. A chess champion like me should naturally be mayor.

B. Everyone is wearing that jacket, so it must be cool.

C. Anyone who agrees with my opponent is a witch.

D. People who hate riding the bus must love traffic.

Answer 1

The statement 'Anyone who agrees with my opponent is a witch' exemplifies a straw man fallacy, misrepresenting an opponent's argument to discredit it.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement "Anyone who agrees with my opponent is a witch" represents a straw man fallacy, where the argument is not addressed directly; instead, it is misrepresented in a way that is easier to attack. A straw man fallacy is a type of argument where someone creates a distorted or exaggerated version of an opponent's argument to make it easier to critique and knock down. This type of fallacy is a distraction from the real issues, and it doesn't engage with the actual arguments or evidence presented. Unlike the other choices presented, this statement is an example of attacking an opponent's supporters by mischaracterizing their view, rather than engaging with the substance of the opponent's argument.