“Considering the Speech given by the School Principal today, I would conclude…
2022
“Considering the Speech given by the School Principal today, I would conclude that he is not a good Public Speaker.” Identify the informal fallacy committed in the above argument.
Answer: D. Hasty Generalisation — CONCEPTAn informal fallacy is an error in reasoning caused by the way evidence is selected or used, rather than by the formal structure alone. A hasty…
- A.
Slippery Slope
- B.
Ad hominem
- C.
Appeal to force
- D.
Hasty Generalisation
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
CONCEPT
An informal fallacy is an error in reasoning caused by the way evidence is selected or used, rather than by the formal structure alone. A hasty generalisation occurs when a broad conclusion is drawn from evidence that is too limited or unrepresentative.
APPLICATION
The observation concerns only one speech delivered today. The conclusion, however, evaluates the principal’s general ability as a public speaker. A single performance is too small a sample to support that broad judgment.
CONTRAST
Slippery slope predicts an unsupported chain of consequences from an initial event.
Ad hominem attacks a person instead of addressing that person’s claim or reasoning.
Appeal to force uses a threat or coercion as support for accepting a conclusion.
Hasty generalisation extends a broad judgment from inadequate evidence, which is the pattern used here.
RESULT
The argument commits the fallacy of hasty generalisation.