Identify any instances of fallacies that occur in the following passages, either
by naming them or, where you think they do not conform to any of the pat-
terns we have described, by explaining in one or two sentences why the "argu-
ment" is irrelevant to the point at issue. (There are a few passages that contain
no fallacies. Be sure you don't find one where none exist!)
1. The tax system in this country is unfair and ridiculous! Just ask anyone!
2. SHE: I think it was exceedingly boorish of you to finish off the last of their expensive truffles like that.
HE: Bosh. They certainly would have done the same to us if given the chance.
3. Overheard: "Hmmmm. Nice day. Think I'll go catch some rays." "Says here in this magazine that doing that sort of thing is guaranteed
to get you a case of skin cancer." "Yeah, I've heard that, too. I think it's a bunch of baloney, personally.
If that were true, you wouldn't be able to do anything-no tubing, skiing, nothing. You wouldn't even be able to just plain lie out in the sun. Ugh!"
4. I've come before you to ask that you rehire Professor Johnson. I realize that Mr. Johnson does not have a Ph.D., and I am aware that he has yet to publish his first article. But Mr. Johnson is over forty now, and he has a wife and two high-school-aged children to support. It will be very difficult for him to find another teaching job at his age, I'm sure you will agree.
5. JUAN: But, Dad, I like Horace. Why shouldn't I room with him, anyway? JUAN'S DAD: Because I'll cut off your allowance, that's why!
1. Boss to employee: "I'll be happy to tell you why this report needs to be finished by Friday. If it isn't ready by then, you'll be looking for another job. How's that for a reason?"
2. Mother: "I think he has earned an increase in his allowance. He doesn't have any spending money at all, and he's always having to make
excuses about not being able to go out with the rest of his friends because of that."
3. Mother to father: "You know, I really believe that our third grader's friend Joe comes from an impoverished family. He looks to me as though he doesn't get enough to eat. I think I'm going to start inviting him to have dinner at our house once or twice a week."
4. "Aw, c'mon, Jake, let's go hang out at Dave's. Don't worry about your parents; they'll get over it. You know, the one thing I really like about you is that you don't let your parents tell you what to do."
5. FIRST PERSON: You know, I might not agree with it, but I could understand it if a society decided to look down on a woman who had a child out of wedlock. But stoning to death? My God, that's barbaric and hideously immoral!
SECOND PERSON: But remember that you come from a background much different from that of the people in that part of Nigeria. It's less immoral in that situation. Besides, in Iran stoning to death has been a common punishment for adultery under the current regime.