Evaluating Written Arguments Flashcards
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An argument concludes that a town's high cancer rate is caused by a nearby factory because the factory opened before cancer rates rose. What fallacy does this commit?
Answer: Post hoc ergo propter hoc
The post hoc fallacy assumes that because one event followed another, the first caused the second, ignoring other possible explanations.
A philosopher states: 'We cannot trust the government's environmental data because the government funds environmental programs.' This argument is an example of:
Answer: A genetic fallacy
The genetic fallacy dismisses information based solely on its origin rather than evaluating the data itself.
Passage: 'If teenagers were taught financial literacy in school, they would make better financial decisions as adults.' Which of the following pieces of evidence would MOST strongly support this claim?
Answer: A longitudinal study found that adults who received school-based financial education had significantly lower debt levels
A longitudinal study tracking actual outcomes in adulthood provides direct evidence linking the cause (school education) to the claimed effect (better decisions).
A journalist argues: 'Violent video games cause aggression because teenagers who play them are more aggressive.' What critical piece of information is missing from this argument?
Answer: Whether aggressive teenagers are more likely to choose violent games in the first place
Without ruling out reverse causation — that aggressive individuals are drawn to violent games — the causal direction cannot be established.
Which of the following pairs of statements contains a logical contradiction?
Answer: All swans are white. This black swan is a swan.
If all swans are white, a black swan cannot exist; a black swan existing directly contradicts the universal claim.
An analyst writes: 'Country X has a lower unemployment rate than Country Y, so Country X has a stronger economy.' Which assumption is embedded in this conclusion?
Answer: Unemployment rate is the sole or most important indicator of economic strength
The conclusion treats a single indicator as definitive of economic strength, ignoring GDP, inflation, inequality, and other relevant factors.
A review board evaluating arguments should classify which of the following as the STRONGEST argument?
Answer: Three independent peer-reviewed studies found our product significantly more effective than the leading alternative
Independent peer-reviewed studies provide the most reliable evidence because they control for bias and are subject to scientific scrutiny.