Entry 4- Nguyễn Thị Hoàn

Name: Nguyễn Thị Hoàn

Class: 10E7

Entry 4

Argument Structure and Fallacies

Item 1:

Source: http://www.skepdic.com/falsedilemma.html

          “Either the eyewitness saw an alien spacecraft or he’s liar.”

ð This is an example of false dilemma

The speaker assumes that there are only two cases were happened:

          1. The eyewitness saw an alien spacecraft

          2. The eyewitness doesn’t saw an alien spacecraft =>he’s liar

However, there are not only 2 choices. Perhaps he’s simply mistaken.

Item 2:

Source: http://intercontinentalcry.org/an-examination-of-logical-fallacies/

          “You should never gamble. Once you start gambling you find it hard to stop. Soon you are spending all your money on gambling, and eventually you will turn to crime to support your earnings.”

ð Fallacy slippery slope

Analysis:

Once you start gambling

=>You find it hard to stop (hidden premise: you will be addicted to gambling)

=> You are spending all your money on gambling (hidden premise: you need a lot of money for gamble)
=>You will turn to crime to support your earnings.

Item 3:

Source: http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/fallacies/hasty_generalization.htm

  “I met some children from Garton yesterday, who were very polite. I think all children from that area must be well-behaved.”

ð Hasty  generalization.

Analysis:

                   Some children from Garton are very polite

                   What’s true for a member is true for the whole group

                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------

                   All children from Garton must be well-behaved.

=>The premise: “What’s true for a member is true for the whole group” is false premise.