1. This could mean that no social media posting on political activity is allowed (on a work computer) and it could mean that no political activity is allowed at all (on a work computer). You were in the committee that worked on the language of that memo so you know that it means the latter. If Joe was using his office computer to compile an email list of political contributors (but not posting anything to social media) then he could justify his action by appealing to the other (incorrect) interpretation of the memo. His argument in justification of his activity would be:
a. An equivocation
b. An incoherent concept argument
c. A fallacy of uncharitable reconstruction
d. A use/mention confusion ...
2. Which of the following arguments rests on a use/mention confusion?
a. The US should intervene in foreign conflicts only when the impacts on US interests are significant. However, it is impossible to say with any specificity what “significant impacts” are. Since that means it isn’t sensible to say that any conflict has a significant impact on US interests, the US should not intervene in any foreign conflicts.
b. The weather is beautiful and it is a fine day for walking on the beach. But the fines here can be very high, so you probably shouldn’t walk on the beach today unless you don’t mind paying a fortune.
c. If many historical authors aren’t overestimating their own importance, then the pen is mightier than the sword. But a pen is just an enclosure for containing animals and so is not mightier than a sword, which can kill animals. So, many historical authors are overestimating their own importance.
d. The congresswoman gave a beautiful speech; what she said was just so moving. Since all she said was “so moving,” her speech was also incredibly short.