Question

Read and write the answer to the given question below...

People have been trying for centuries to prove that aliens exist. But no one has yet been able to do it. Therefore, aliens do not exist. { highlight text = herefore, aliens do not exist. }

1. Which of the following logical fallacies does the author commit upon concluding that "Aliens do not exist"?

a) Begging the question, present in an argument in which the arguer asks his or her opponent to simply accept a conclusion absent any real evidence; the argument either relies on a premise that says the same thing as the conclusion (commonly referred to as “being circular” or “circular reasoning”) or simply ignores an important (but questionable) assumption that the argument rests on.

b) Appeal to ignorance, present in an argument in which the arguer relies on the supposition that, due to a lack of conclusive evidence, the conclusion of an argument should be accepted.

c) Ad populum, present in an argument in which the arguer takes advantage of the desire most people have to be liked and to fit in with others, using that desire to try to get the audience to accept his or her argument.

d) False dichotomy, present in an argument in which the arguer makes it look as though the answer to a question admits of only two alternatives (one that is logical and one that is illogical), when, in reality, there are multiple undisclosed options available.

e) Appeal to Fear, present in an argument in which the arguer relies on the instillation of fear in the opponent, rather than the presentation of evidence, to support a claim. (Also known as a “scare tactic”.)

Answer 1

b) Appeal to ignorance, present in an argument in which the arguer relies on the supposition that, due to a lack of conclusive evidence, the conclusion of an argument should be accepted.

Step-by-step explanation:

The logical fallacy of appeal to ignorance is when an argument's conclusion is based on the absence of any evidence proving against it. In other words, an appeal to ignorance is when an arguer relies on the supposition that the lack of any evidence proving otherwise makes his conclusion acceptable and right.

In the given case of the existence of aliens, the speaker decides that "[since] no one has yet been able to [prove that aliens exist]", therefore, it must be true and accepted that "aliens do not exist." This argument follows the logical fallacy of an appeal to ignorance.

Thus, the correct answer is option b.