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Question

Difficulty: MediumAppeal Fallacies (Authority, Emotion, Majority)

Match each of the following argument excerpts to the precise abstract description of the logical fallacy it commits.

  • The new municipal zoning regulations are clearly unconstitutional. Dr. Vance, a Nobel laureate in theoretical physics, has published a detailed essay outlining why they violate fundamental legal rights.Bases its conclusion on the judgment of an authority whose specialized knowledge is irrelevant to the subject matter.
  • The city council must approve the proposed bailout for the local transit authority. If they do not, thousands of hardworking parents will instantly lose their jobs and their children will suffer immensely.Attempts to persuade by eliciting sympathy rather than by providing logically relevant evidence.
  • The new artificial sweetener must be completely safe for human consumption. A recent nationwide poll reveals that over eighty percent of consumers believe it poses no health risks whatsoever.Treats the widespread acceptance of a claim as sufficient evidence to establish that the claim is true.
  • The proposed chemical plant will not contaminate the local river. We can be certain of this because the lead developer of the plant assured the zoning board that their safety protocols are completely foolproof.Accepts as definitive the testimony of a party who has a vested interest in the outcome of the issue.

Answer

The excerpt about Dr. Vance matches with appealing to an irrelevant authority; the transit bailout excerpt matches with eliciting sympathy; the sweetener excerpt matches with treating widespread acceptance as sufficient evidence; and the chemical plant excerpt matches with accepting testimony from a party with a vested interest.
Each excerpt contains a classic logical fallacy involving an illegitimate appeal. The first excerpt appeals to an expert in the wrong field. The second excerpt uses emotional manipulation rather than relevant evidence. The third excerpt relies on popular opinion to determine a factual matter. The fourth excerpt blindly trusts a heavily biased source.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the first excerpt regarding the zoning regulations.
The argument cites a Nobel laureate in physics to prove a point about constitutional law.
Identifying the mismatch between the cited expert's field and the topic of the conclusion reveals an appeal to an unqualified authority.
2
Analyze the second excerpt regarding the transit bailout.
The argument focuses entirely on the suffering of parents and children if the bailout is rejected.
Recognizing that the premise tries to evoke pity rather than addressing the financial or practical merits of the bailout identifies the appeal to emotion.
3
Analyze the third excerpt regarding the artificial sweetener.
The argument uses the belief of eighty percent of consumers to prove a scientific claim about safety.
Noting that widespread public belief does not equate to scientific fact identifies the appeal to majority (ad populum).
4
Analyze the fourth excerpt regarding the chemical plant.
The argument relies on the assurances of the plant's lead developer to prove the plant is environmentally safe.
Understanding that the developer has a strong bias and stands to benefit from the plant's approval identifies the reliance on a non-neutral or biased authority.

Key Concept

Identifying various forms of appeal fallacies (authority, emotion, majority, and bias) by their abstract logical descriptions.
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Topics

Appeal Fallacies (Authority, Emotion, Majority)

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