Question

For the following statements, choose between: false dilemma, slippery slope, begs the question, appeals to ignorance, false analogy.

1. Banning assault weapons must be opposed. If owning an assault weapons is outlawed, then semi automatic rifles for hunting will be outlawed next. After that its a small step to outlaw owning any weapon at all. Law-abiding citizens will be left totally defenseless against criminals and a tyrannical law enforcement.

2. Homeowners who have no children should not pay taxes to support the school district. This is like paying cigarette taxes even though you do not smoke.

3. The choice is clear. Either you support a free-market economy or you support a communist police state. Surely, you do not want to live in a communist police state. So, you must support a free-market economy.

4. Only the most qualified persons would be nominated for President of the United States. So, the two candidates currently nominated must be the most qualified persons in the country.

5. There is no evidence that UFOs from alien civilizations do not exist. So, UFOs from alien civilizations do exist.

6. Capital punishment is morally wrong because it is immoral for the state to execute its citizens.

Answer 1

1. Slippery slope. This is a type of argument in which a small or insignificant action or actions over a course of time lead to a significant result that may be unintended.

2. False analogy. In this type of argument, the comparison made between two situations or things is weak (the two things are assumed to be similar although they are not) Here, cigarette taxes and taxes for school may seem similar but they are not.

3. False dilemma. In this, the result or choice is forced using either/or situations. The statement clearly shows "Either you support a free-market economy or you support a communist police state." The choice "So, you must support a free-market economy." is clearly forced here.

4. Begs the question. In this statement, the conclusion is made from the premise that itself has no supporting evidence.

5. Appeal to ignore. In such statements, conclusion is believed to be true because there is no proof against the truth of the conclusion. Here, since there is no evidence that UFOs from alien civilizations do not exist, UFOs from alien civilizations are believed to exist.

6. Begs the question. Again, the truth of the conclusion is assumed in the premise. There is no support for the truth of it.