PRACTICE SCENARIOS FOR CHAPTER4

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Keiser University *

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2010

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Philosophy

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Dec 6, 2023

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docx

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Uploaded by LieutenantSquirrelPerson970

PRACTICE SCENARIOS FOR CHAPTER FOUR EACH OF THE CASES PRESENTED BELOW CONTAIN AT LEAST ONE OF THE FALLACIES DISCUSSED IN THIS CHAPTER. FOR EACH CASE, NAME AT LEAST ONE FALLACY IT CONTAINS AND EXPLAIN HOW THE PERSON WHO COMMITTED THE FALLACY MIGHT HAVE AVOIDED IT. THAT IS, EXPLAIN HOW THIS PERSON COULD HAVE MORE EFFECTIVELY DEALT WITH HIS OR HER SITUATION. 1. Victor and Victoria have been married for one year and recently have separated. Both Victor and Victoria miss one another and each secretly hopes the other will make the first move so that they can get back together. One day Victor pays Victoria a visit. Victor asks Victoria to get back together and here is her response: Victoria: "How dare you think that I will come running back to you the minute you snap your fingers! Please leave this instant." Answer: Opposite Meaning. Victoria should have been more open to Victor about her feelings and their situation. Now Victor thinks Victoria does not want to be with him, when she actually does want to be with him because she is using opposite meaning. This could have went another way. It doesn’t say that Victor shared his feelings. It only says he asked Victoria to get back together with him. Her reaction in my opinion, although opposite of what she truly meant, reacted out of hurt from their split. If they were both honest about their feelings, they could have had a genuine conversation about their relationship. 2. John's wife has recently divorced him and he is de- pressed. He says the following to his counselor: John: "Ever since I can remember, life has played cruel tricks on me. I thought I had a wife who really cared but that was just another one of life's teases. I was just set up just to be knocked down." Answer: Personifying John is personifying “life” as if life can be cruel and play tricks on him. John needs to take responsibility for his own actions instead of blaming everything else except himself. Once he stops blaming life and starts owning up to his own actions, he will understand the problems in his relationship leading to why his wife divorced him.

*3 . James and his girlfriend, Sherry, had a quarrel. When Sherry told James that she never wanted to see him again, he began to cry. In what follows, James discusses the matter with his good friend, Curt: James: "I just don't know what came over me. When she said we were through, I just couldn't hold back the tears. I cried just like a woman. A man is not supposed to cry like that. What kind of a man am I anyway. Imagine what Sherry thinks of me now!" Curt: "Maybe Sherry will change her mind. Some women like sensitive men." James: "Sensitive men, my eye. A man who bawls like that is no man at all." Answer: Self-Evidence Fallacy James is judging from his own belief that men aren’t allowed to cry. In this case, Curt should have educated James that not all men have to always be tough and that it is okay to be sensitive. It is better to express your emotions rather than hold them in just because society has conditioned men to think this way. 4. Here is how Karen describes her husband to her counselor: Karen: "My husband has what I call his "dark moods." When he has them, I try my best to keep my distance from him." Answer: Vague Terms Karen is not giving enough information to the meaning of “dark moods.” There are many reasons why someone could be in a “dark mood”. It could be sadness, violence, lonely, or even stress. Karen should be more open to what her husband does that causes his “dark moods”. 5. Bob: "Are you angry at me?" Bob's Girlfriend (speaking with sarcasm): "Me? Angry? Now why in the world would I be angry at you." Answer: Opposite Meaning Bobs girlfriend is not being consistent to what she really means. She should have told him the truth instead of being sarcastic. Now, Bob will be confused, and this can cause more problems in their relationship from not being honest with him about how she truly felt. 6. Lyle has a heart condition. His wife Laura thinks that Lyle takes advantage of her by asking her to do too many things for him that he can do by himself. Here is a 56 conversation between the two:

Lyle: "Where's my supper?" Laura: "It's in the oven. Why don't you take it yourself." Lyle: "Can't you serve it? I need to sit down and rest. I feel sick." Laura: "Sick again. You sure are sick! Sick, Sick, Sick! If you're so sick, why don't you see a psychiatrist." Answer: Switching Meaning Laura has switched the meaning of “sick”. She uses “sick” as a mental illness instead of how Lyle actually feels which is physically ill. Laura needs to learn the difference between mental illness and physical illness to better understand her husband’s pain. 7. "A real wife must have supper on the table before her husband comes home." Answer: Self-Evidence Fallacy This is self-evidence fallacy because although a traditional way of living, this is not necessarily true for other spouses. Assuming a “real wife” means she must have supper on the table for her husband. *8. Carla has chronic bronchitis, which is aggravated by inhaling cigarette smoke. Recently, she has accepted a new job as an Executive Secretary to The Vice President of a large corporation. However, she later finds out that The Vice President smokes. Here is a discussion between the two on the first day of Carla's employment when she first finds out about her new boss's smoking habit: Vice President: Do you mind if I smoke while I dictate this letter? Carla: "You smoke." Vice President: "That's right. Several packs a day. Been smoking since I'm a kid. Can't seem to kick the habit. Do you mind?" Carla: "Well [she then coughs], yes. I mean no, go ahead. I don't mind." Vice President: "Are you sure?" Carla: "Yes [she coughs again], it's OK." Vice President: "Good because my last secretary wouldn't let me smoke around her. Let's get started, shall we?" Carla: "Yes, let's."

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