Match each flawed causal argument to the correct description of the logical fallacy it commits.
- Immediately after the new software update was installed, the computer network crashed. Therefore, the software update caused the crash.Assuming a causal relationship solely because one event occurred immediately before another.
- People who use wheelchairs have a much higher rate of physical disability than those who do not. Clearly, using a wheelchair causes physical disabilities.Reversing the actual direction of cause and effect between two phenomena.
- People who are seen carrying umbrellas are much more likely to be wearing rainboots. Thus, carrying an umbrella causes one to wear rainboots.Inferring that one thing causes another while ignoring the possibility that both are caused by a common third factor.
- Eating excessive amounts of sugar is known to cause weight gain. Therefore, anyone who has gained weight must have eaten excessive amounts of sugar.Treating one possible cause of an effect as if it were the only possible cause of that effect.
Answer
The correct pairings match each specific argument with its corresponding causal flaw: temporal sequence to post hoc, wheelchair use to reversed causality, umbrellas/rainboots to a common third factor, and sugar/weight gain to assuming a sole cause.
Each argument perfectly demonstrates one specific causal fallacy. Matching them requires identifying the structural gap between the evidence provided and the causal conclusion drawn.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Identifying and categorizing distinct types of causal logical flaws.