Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently proposed a ban on selling soft beverages in con
ID: 3490544 • Letter: M
Question
Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently proposed a ban on selling soft beverages in containers larger than 16 ounces. The intent of the ban is to alleviate the high levels of obesity in NYC, which contributes to diabetes and heart disease. The soft beverage industry has countered the ban with the view that the ban offends against liberty and freedom. Below are some le-mails from residents of NYC to the local newspaper on Staten island, The Staten island Advance. Analyze their reasoning—you will have to reconstruct their texts as arguments. All of them were published in the Saturday, July 28th, 2012 issue.
argument : None of the bans have affected me negatively. And I find eating out much more enjoyable now that the bars and restaurants don’t stink of tobacco. If people were smart, they’d be more mistrustful of industries that sell unhealthy stuff than they are of their government.
Premise 1: None of the Bans have affected me negatively.
Premise 2: I find eating out much more enjoyable now that the bars and restaurants don’t stink of tobacco.
Conclusion: If people were smart, they’d be more mistrustful of industries that sell unhealthy stuff than they are of their government.
This argument is invalid and there is a loophole. what is the loophole?
Explanation / Answer
The argument is invalid and is a kind of logical fallacy because there is no relationship of tobacco's smell with that of soft beverage and the conclusion isn't coming from the given premises.