I. Identify the fallacies of relevance committed by the following arguments, giving a brief explanation for your answer. If no fallacy is committed, write “no fallacy.”
1. The position open in the accounting department should be given to Frank Thompson. Frank has six hungry children to feed, and his wife desperately needs an operation to save her eyesight.
2. Erica Evans, who takes orders at the local Taco Bell, argues persuasively in favor of increasing the minimum wage. But this is exactly what you would ex-pect. Erica is paid the minimum wage, and if the minimum wage is increased, then her own salary will go up. Obviously Erica’s arguments are worthless.
3. The school board argues that our schools are in desperate need of repair. But the real reason our students are falling behind is that they spend too much time on their smartphones. Becoming educated means a lot more than learn-ing how to scroll up and down. The school board should send a letter to the parents urging them to confiscate their kids’ smartphones.
5. You should read Irving Stone’s latest novel right away. It’s sold over a million cop-ies, and practically everyone in the Manhattan cocktail circuit is talking about it.
6. Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophy is not worth the paper it’s printed on. Nietzsche was an immoral reprobate who went completely insane from syphilis before he died.
7. Surely you welcome the opportunity to join our protective organization. Think of all the money you will lose from broken windows, overturned trucks, and damaged merchandise in the event of your not joining.
8. Senator Barrow advocates increased Social Security benefits for the poor. It is regrettable that the senator finds it necessary to advocate socialism. Socialism defeats initiative, takes away promised rewards, and leads directly to ineffi-ciency and big government. It was tried for years in Eastern Europe, and it failed miserably. Clearly, socialism is no good.
10. The editors of the Daily Register have accused our company of being one of the city’s worst water polluters. But the Daily Register is responsible for much more pollution than we are. After all, they own the Western Paper Company, and that company discharges tons of chemical residue into the city’s river every day.
11. If 20 percent of adult Americans are functionally illiterate, then it’s no wonder that morons get elected to public office. In fact, 20 percent of adult Americans are functionally illiterate. Therefore, it’s no wonder that morons get elected to public office.
13. We’ve all heard the argument that too much television is the reason our stu-dents can’t read and write. Yet many of today’s TV shows are excellent. Grey’s Anatomy unveils the personal lives of interns at an urban hospital, The Big Bang Theory offers lots of laughs, and American Idol uncovers hidden musical talent. Today’s TV is just great!
14. Surely architect Norris is not responsible for the collapse of the Central Bank Tower. Norris has had nothing but trouble lately. His daughter eloped with a child molester, his son committed suicide, and his alcoholic wife recently left for Las Vegas with his retirement savings.
16. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren argues that big banks have been ripping off the American consumer for years. It’s clear, however, that Warren says this only to scratch up more campaign contributions from those very consumers. Thus, you shouldn’t take her arguments seriously.
17. Professor Pearson’s arguments in favor of the theory of evolution should be discounted. Pearson is a cocaine-snorting sex pervert and, according to some reports, a member of the Communist Party.
18. Rudolf Höss, commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp, confessed to having exterminated 1 million people, most of whom were Jews, in the Auschwitz gas chamber. We can only conclude that Höss was either insane or an extremely evil person.
19. TV commentator Larry Kudlow argues that government should get off the back of the American businessman. Obviously, Kudlow wants to abolish government altogether. Yet without government there would be no defense, no judicial sys-tem, no Social Security, and no health and safety regulations. None of us wants to forgo these benefits. Thus, we can see that Kudlow’s argument is absurd.
20. I know that some of you oppose the appointment of David Cole as the new sales manager. On further consideration, however, I am confident you will find him well qualified for the job. If Cole is not appointed, it may become necessary to make severe personnel cutbacks in your department.
21. Animal rights activists say that animals are abused in biomedical research labs. But consider this: Pets are abused by their owners every day. Probably 25 percent of pet owners should never get near animals. Some cases of abuse are enough to make you sick.
22. Of course you want to buy a pair of Slinky fashion jeans. Slinky jeans really show off your figure, and all the Hollywood starlets down on the Strip can be seen wearing them these days.
23. Film star Catherine Zeta-Jones says on TV that T-Mobile provides the cover-age you need at the price you want. But this is exactly what you would expect given that T-Mobile pays her millions of dollars to make these ads. Thus, you shouldn’t take her testimonials too seriously.
24. Dr. Morrison has argued that smoking is responsible for the majority of health problems in this country and that every smoker who has even the slightest concern for his or her health should quit. Unfortunately, however, we must consign Dr. Morrison’s argument to the trash bin. Only yesterday I saw none other than Dr. Morrison himself smoking a cigar.
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