Question

Read each of the following arguments and determine if any Informal Fallacies obtain.

(Helpful Hint: When attempting to identify Informal Fallacies firstly locate the conclusion of each argument; secondly, attempt to discover the alleged supporting premises.)

The Nazis used to send the following notice to German readers who allowed their newspaper subscriptions to lapse: “Our paper certainly deserves the support of every German. We shall continue to forward copies of it to you, and hope that you will not want to expose yourself to unfortunate consequences in the case of cancellation.” (Grunberger, A Social History of the Third Reich)

A.) Argumentum ad misericordiam and Hasty Conclusion

B.) Argumentum ad populum and Loaded Statement

C.) Argumentum ad baculum and Non Sequitur

D.) No Informal Fallacy has obtained in this argument

Answer 1

Argumentum ad misericordiam is not applicable in this case because because the argument does not seek to evoke feelings of pity or guilt. Instead, it seeks to instill fear in the reader.

Option a) is incorrect.

Argumentum ad populum is also not applicable here because the argument does not insist that the reader should subscribe to the newspaper because everyone else is doing so.

Option b) is incorrect.

The argument contains an informal fallacy.

Option d) is incorrect.

Argumentum ad baculum is relevant here because the argument threatens the readers with dire consequences if they do not renew their subscriptions. Moreover, the argument is a non-sequitur because the first statement does not logically lead to the second one.

Option c) is the correct option.