Page 73 - Computer Basics - Research

[Behren & Rosen, WRAC, 57; Weston, RA, 78]).

4. Either/Or Reasoning (False Dilemma)— Apathy in recognizing the complexity. This is a process by the author
who restricts the “range of possible solutions by offering only two courses of action, and then rejects the one
that he opposes; he cannot logically argue that the remaining course of action, which he favors, is therefore
the only one that makes sense. Usually, several other options (at least) are possible.” Here is an example:

America: Love It or Leave It,” Since the universe could not have been created out of nothingness, it must
have been created by an intelligent life force . . .” “Well, maybe, but is creation by an intelligent life force
the only other possibility?” “This argument overlooks alternatives (Weston, RA, 77; Behrens & Rosen, WRAC,
58).

5. Hasty Generalization (Overgeneralization — drawing of a conclusion from “too little evidence or from
unrepresentative evidence.” Here are some examples:
Scientists should not proceed with the Human Genome Project because a recent editorial urged that the
project be abandoned, which is to make a hasty generalization” (Behrens & Rosen, WRAC, 58).

Just because your student friends are all athletes or business majors or vegetarians, it doesn’t follow that
all of your fellow students are the same (Weston, RA, 78).

Everyone in my neighborhood favors Edgar Chagwa Lungu or Mbingu Wamtharika for president.
Therefore, Edgar Chagwa Lungu or Mbingu Wamtharika is sure to win. (Weston, RA, 11).

6. False Analogy—Comparison of “one person, event, or issue to another may be illuminating, but it can also be
confusing or misleading. Differences between the two may be more significant than their similarities.” Here is
an example:

A candidate for governor or president who argues that her experience as CEO of a major business would
make her effective in governing a state or the country is assuming an analogy between the business and
the political/civic worlds that does not hold up to examination. Most businesses are hierarchical, or top-
down: When a CEO issues an order, he or she can expect it to be carried out without argument. But
governors and presidents command only their own executive branch. They cannot issue orders to
independent legislatures or courts (much less private citizens); they can only attempt to persuade. In this
case, the implied analogy fails to convince the thoughtful reader or listener” (Behrens & Rosen, WRAC, 58-
59).

7. Begging the Question (In Latin; [petitio principii also known as Circular Reasoning)—An assumption as a
proven fact of the very thesis being argued. Here are a couple of examples:

“That America does not need a new health care delivery system because America currently has the best
health care in the world does not prove anything: It merely repeats the claim in different—and equally
unproven—words” (Behrens & Rosen, WRAC, 59).

“You can count on WARP News for the facts, because they constantly say on the air that ‘we just give the
facts,’ so that must be a fact too!” (Weston, RA, 75).

8. Non-Sequitur (in Latin; “it does not follow”)—A drawn-out conclusion which does not logically follow from
the premise.
“‘Since minorities have made such great strides in the past few decades,’ a writer may argue, ‘we no
longer need affirmative action programs’” (Behrens & Rosen, WRAC, 59).

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