Identify any fallacies in the following passages either by naming them or, where
ID: 3457778 • Letter: I
Question
Identify any fallacies in the following passages either by naming them or, where they seem not to conform to any of the patterns described in the text, by giving a brief explanation of why the fallacious reasoning is irrelevant to the point at issue.
"People in Hegins, Pennsylvania, hold an annual pigeon shoot in order to control the pigeon population and to raise money for the town. This year, the pigeon shoot was disrupted by animal rights activists who tried to release the pigeons from their cages. I can’t help but think these animal rights activists are the same people who believe in controlling the human population through the use of abortion. Yet, they recoil at a similar means of controlling pigeons. What rank hypocrisy." —Rush Limbaugh
"Pop, a new car may be expensive, but do you want me to drive around in this junk pile the rest of my life?"
Explanation / Answer
1. This is an example of the straw man fallacy. This is because the author attributes the worst possible motive to the opponent’s position and then attacks this motive rather than the argument itself.
2. This is an example of the either/or fallacy. This is because the son incorrectly presents only two scenarios with respect to the current situation: either buying an expensive car or driving his current car for the rest of his life.