Final answer:
The fallacy presented in the statement is a circular argument, which is an informal fallacy where the conclusion is restated in the premises. A valid argument against such a statement requires independent reasons that do not simply restate the initial claim.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement “I have always been frightened of cats because they are scary” presents a circular argument, which is a type of informal fallacy. A circular argument is one where the conclusion is included in the premise of the argument, rendering the argument essentially without substance because it assumes as its starting point what it seeks to prove. In the given statement, the speaker's fear of cats is “because they are scary,” but “scary” is a restatement of the feeling of being “frightened,” thus the reason given is just a restatement of the conclusion. To avoid this fallacy, one would need to provide an independent reason for why cats are scary that doesn’t rely on the initial fear.
There are other fallacies related to assumptions and induction. For example, a fallacy of unwarranted assumption occurs when someone makes an argument based on an assumption that isn't justified y any evidence, while a fallacy of weak induction happens when the evidence provided is insufficient to support the conclusion.
Understanding fallacies like circular argument, hasty generalization, and biased sample helps us think more critically about the claims we encounter and is essential for distinguishing valid arguments from flawed ones.