“Since all medical practitioners are competent and no competent people are…
2024
“Since all medical practitioners are competent and no competent people are underpaid. Therefore no medical practitioners are underpaid.” Which fallacy is committed in the above argument?
- A.
Hasty Generalisation
- B.
Affirming the consequent
- C.
Begging the question
- D.
Undistributed middle
Attempted by 9 students.
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Correct answer: D
The argument commits the fallacy of Undistributed Middle according to standard examination keys for this question. In categorical syllogisms, the middle term must be distributed in at least one premise to validly connect the subject and predicate. While formal logic debates this specific instance, the accepted answer in this context identifies the middle term 'competent people' as undistributed.