"All phenomena in the universe are saturated with moral values. Therefore, we…
2023
"All phenomena in the universe are saturated with moral values. Therefore, we can conclude that for the Chinese, the universe is a moral universe." Which informal logical fallacy is present in the above statement?
- A.
Slippery Slope
- B.
Begging the Question
- C.
Hasty Generalization
- D.
Fallacy of Composition
Attempted by 12 students.
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Correct answer: B
The statement commits the fallacy of Begging the Question (circular reasoning). The premise claims that all phenomena are saturated with moral values, which is essentially the same as concluding that the universe is a moral universe. By assuming the truth of the conclusion within the premise, the argument fails to provide independent evidence. It presupposes what it sets out to prove rather than offering a logical justification.\nOption A (Slippery Slope) is incorrect because the argument does not suggest a chain of inevitable negative consequences. Option C (Hasty Generalization) is incorrect because the argument does not draw a broad conclusion from insufficient specific examples; instead, it relies on an unproven assumption. Option D (Fallacy of Composition) is incorrect because the argument does not mistakenly attribute a property of parts to the whole. Thus, Begging the Question is the only accurate classification for this circular logic.