FALLACIES, PART ONE The following debate between WENDELL and DEANDRA corresponds
ID: 3459522 • Letter: F
Question
FALLACIES, PART ONE The following debate between WENDELL and DEANDRA corresponds to Items #1-5. Both sides demonstrate faulty thinking. In each item, select the best reason why the thinking is faulty. You need not know anything about the arguments for or against free trade policies to answer these items.
(1) WENDELL: Free trade agreements represent a punch in the gut to American workers, serve as an attack on American businesses, and constitute a rape of our country. Why is Wendell’s thinking faulty?
a) Wendell uses words that are ambiguous or have multiple meanings.
b) Wendell does not provide enough evidence to support the conclusion.
c) Wendell uses emotional language that makes the position unreasonable.
(2) WENDELL: Trade deficits have been detrimental to our job market. Therefore, we should do away with free trade agreements. DEANDRA: There is little to no evidence that trade deficits have played a significant role in reducing employment—and almost no role over the past decade. Why is Wendell’s thinking faulty?
a) Wendell mistakenly assumes there are only two alternatives.
b) Wendell suppresses evidence that contradicts the conclusion.
c) Wendell does not provide enough evidence to support the conclusion.
(3) DEANDRA: How can you say that we should eliminate free trade agreements?
WENDELL: Because free trade agreements result in a loss of jobs and lower wages for American workers.
DEANDRA: What you refuse to acknowledge is that the decline of manufacturing jobs in America actually results from the use of new technologies (like robotics and 3D printing), and a shift in demand away from goods toward services. Why is Wendell’s thinking faulty?
a) Wendell suppresses evidence that contradicts the conclusion.
b) Wendell uses emotional language that makes the position unreasonable.
c) Wendell does not provide enough evidence to support the conclusion.
(4) DEANDRA: Free trade is essential to creating a sustained, high rate of economic growth in this country.
WENDELL: How can you say that free trade is essential to economic growth when it encourages American companies to outsource production and ship jobs overseas? That is not economic growth to my way of thinking.
DEANDRA: I contend that free trade opens foreign markets to American goods, agriculture products, and services. And that, in my mind, represents economic growth. Why is Deandra’s initial thinking faulty?
a) Deandra uses emotional language that makes the position unreasonable.
b) Deandra uses words that are ambiguous or have multiple meanings.
c) Deandra mistakenly assumes there are only two alternatives.
(5) DEANDRA: How can you say that we should eliminate free trade agreements? Without them, we would have a series of significant trade wars on our hands.
WENDELL: I'm in favor of free trade, but only if we institute protections for the American worker. Surely, we can find a way to put the needs of American workers ahead of the interests of powerful multi-national corporations, drug companies, and Wall Street while pursuing free trade. Why is Deandra’s thinking is faulty?
a) Deandra mistakenly assumes there are only two alternatives.
b) Deandra uses words that are ambiguous or have multiple meanings.
c) Deandra suppresses evidence that contradicts the conclusion.
Explanation / Answer
(1) In this statement Wendell is using is using words that have multiple meanings and hence, the statement becomes ambiguous.
Answer. Option a). Wendell uses words that are ambiguous or have multiple meanings.
2. This statement o Wendell is not supported by enough evidence as to how and why is free trade detrimental to our job markets.
Answer. Option c). Wendell does not provide enough evidence to support the conclusion.
3. This statement of Wendell has unreasonable emotional language, also, Wendell doesn't not make it clear how free trade could cause job loss for Americans.
Answer. Option b). Wendell uses emotional language that makes the position unreasonable.
4. Deandra's initial thinking is faulty because Deandra fails to acknowledge the other side of the concept, and it drawbacks and is using an emotional language
Answer. Option a). Deandra uses emotional language that makes the position unreasonable.
5. Deandra is convinced that free trade is very essential, otherwise it will lead to many complications like trade wars.
Answer. Option a). Deandra mistakenly assumes there are only two alternatives.
5.
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