Most fallacious arguments are fallacious in several ways. To reduce ambiguity, t

Question

Most fallacious arguments are fallacious in several ways. To reduce ambiguity, the arguments below are characterized in at least two ways--and so reduce the possibility of getting it wrong. (If you think the argument is a good one, it may be because you cannot think of ignored alternatives.) Match the name of the common mistake to an argument that illustrates the mistake. For the following, choose from these choices: false delemma and begs the question; appeal to ignore fallacy and begs the question; false dilemma and slippery slope fallacy; begs the question and equivocation; fallacious appeal to tradition and begs the question; false cause and flawed generalization; red herring and equivocation. 1. Duke Power Company is not overcharging for electricity. Think of the things that are powered by electricity: electric lights, refrigerators, air conditioning, fans, electric blankets, microwave ovens, radio, television, computers. Electricity enriches our lives, making our homes more convenient, interesting, and comfortable. Electricity is a bargain at any price. 2. We have to decide whether to ban all insecticides or to let farmers use any insecticide they want. We can't completely eliminate the use of insecticides, for then farmers would have no way of keeping insects from ruining their crops. An insecticide ban would lead to food shortages, high food prices and perhaps even farm bankruptcies. So we should not ban insecticides. 3. Some people argue that we should ban eyewitness testimony because of the unreliability of eyewitness testimony. But we cannot and should ban eyewitness testimony because it is a central part of our justice system. 4. Either it is always wrong to lie or there is nothing wrong with lying. Lying is a good thing when one lies to save the life of an innocent human being. Lying to loved ones is often better than hurting their feelings, and so it follows that there is nothing wrong with lying. 5. Everything happens for a purpose. We know that to be true, since nothing happens without a purpose. 6. Some individuals living today, actually lived previous lives in past. No one has ever proved that such claims of previous lives are false. So, it must be true that some people have lived past lives. 7. If we in the US believe in equal opportunity for everyone, then we must have an educational system in which all children have good schools. In fact, the US has many schools where plumbing does not work, teachers do not show up, and school district spends less than $300 per pupil per year. So, the majority of taxpayers in the US do not really believe in equal opportunity for all.

Explanation / Answer

1. Duke Power Company is not overcharging for electricity. Think of the things that are powered by electricity: electric lights, refrigerators, air conditioning, fans, electric blankets, microwave ovens, radio, television, computers. Electricity enriches our lives, making our homes more convenient, interesting, and comfortable. Electricity is a bargain at any price. Red herring and equivocation.

2. We have to decide whether to ban all insecticides or to let farmers use any insecticide they want. We can't completely eliminate the use of insecticides, for then farmers would have no way of keeping insects from ruining their crops. An insecticide ban would lead to food shortages, high food prices and perhaps even farm bankruptcies. So we should not ban insecticides. False dilemma and slippery slope.

3. Some people argue that we should ban eyewitness testimony because of the unreliability of eyewitness testimony. But we cannot and should ban eyewitness testimony because it is a central part of our justice system. Fallacious appeal to tradition and begs the question.

4. Either it is always wrong to lie or there is nothing wrong with lying. Lying is a good thing when one lies to save the life of an innocent human being. Lying to loved ones is often better than hurting their feelings, and so it follows that there is nothing wrong with lying. False dilemma and begs the question.

Please post the other questions separately as we are supposed to answer just one question or four subparts of a question.

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