1. When an argument takes for granted a
belief that is in fact debatable.

2. Begging the Question
An argument begs the question if and only if one or more
of its premises can be accepted only if the conclusion has
already been accepted. Since in any such argument, at
least one premise assumes the conclusion, that premise
cannot be a reason for accepting that conclusion.
The argument is said to “beg,” rather than to support, its
“question” or conclusion.

3. The premise here (that animals are treated humanely) relies
on the conclusion being true (that the animals are not
treated inhumanely), so it begs the question.
The treatment of the animals in our zoo is humane,
given that animals are not treated inhumanely in this
zoo.

4. Once again, the premise requires that the conclusion is true.
1. Homer wrote the Odyssey.
2. Homer existed.

5. Free trade will be good for this country. The reason is
patently clear. Isn't it obvious that unrestricted
commercial relations will bestow on all sections of
this nation the benefits which result when there is an
unimpeded flow of goods between countries?

6. When an argument begs the question, at least one
premise assumes the conclusion being argued for.
When an argument begs the question against, at
least one premise assumes something is in need of
support.

7. The premise that women are less productive is, besides
being outrageously offensive, in serious need of evidential
support. Thus it begs the question against.
1. Whoever is less productive should have lower
wages.
2. Women are less productive than men.
3. Hence, women should have lower wages.

8. Upon first reading, this argument seems sound. But
suppose I told you Bruno was a serial killer. Suddenly the
argument falls apart. Why? Because premise #1 begs the
question against. Some people, like serial killers, should be
denied freedom.
1. No person should be denied freedom
2. Bruno is a person
3. It follows that Bruno is entitled to freedom.

9. Premise #1 here requires a lot more evidential support to
escape begging the question against.
1. Socialism is an unjust system of government.
2. Unjust systems of government must be
abolished.
3. Therefore socialism must be abolished.

10. Asks a question that can only be answered “yes” or
“no,” but which assumes either:
1. That there is only one question when there are in
fact two or more, each with its own answer, or
2. That some claim is true when in fact it is either
false or, at the very least, doubtful.

11. This classic example illustrates the fallacy well. The question
requires a yes or no answer, but neither answer would be
correct (assuming you don’t beat your wife). The question
also assumes something that is false (I hope), that you beat
your wife.
Have you stopped beating your wife yet?

12. Does my opponent agree with the president’s
disastrous economic policy which is now leading our
nation to ruin?

13. Do you support freedom and the right to bear
arms?

14. An argument commits the fallacy of false alternatives
if and only if it offers in its premises a disjunction
presenting two extreme alternatives as the only ones
possible, when in reality there are one or more others
equally plausible.

15. There are only two possibilities: either our country
abandons its involvement in foreign wars or it
continues to interfere in other nations’ affairs. If it
does the former, then it will become neutral like
Switzerland, but if it does the latter, it’ll get deeper in
debt to China. So our country will either become
neutral like Switzerland or get deeper in debt to
China.

16. 1. Either all U.S. universities will convert their
programs entirely into online courses, or they’ll all
soon go bankrupt.
2. U.S. universities will not convert their programs
entirely to online courses.
3. They’ll all soon go bankrupt.

17. This is a classic false alternative fallacy. Either you subscribe
completely to the Bolshevik party platform, or else you are
an enemy.
"It is with absolute frankness that we speak of this
struggle of the proletariat; each man must choose
between joining our side or the other side. Any
attempt to avoid taking sides in this issue must end in
fiasco.“
- Lenin

18. The false alternative fallacy is an extremely common one in
politics.
“Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.”
- George W Bush
“Every nation has to either be with us, or against us. Those
who harbor terrorists, or who finance them, are going to
pay a price.”
- Hillary Clinton

19. The fallacy of accident is committed by an argument
that treats a certain case as falling under a general
rule or principle when in fact the case counts as an
exception to it.

20. It’s generally true that dogs are friendly, but there are plenty
of exceptions.
1. Dogs are friendly animals
2. My Rottweiler, Otto, is a dog.
3. Otto is a friendly animal.

21. Again, it’s usually a bad thing to cut people with knives, but
there are exceptions.
1. Cutting people with a knife is a crime.
2. Surgeons cut people with knives.
3. Surgeons are criminals.