Question

Select the best answer for each argument. During the four years that Allison has been president of the Westridge Retirement Club, five members have contracted diabetes. Therefore, to prevent any more cases of this disease we must elect a new president immediately
(A) Begging the question.
(B) False cause.
(C) Accident.
(D) Slippery slope.
(E) No fallacy.

Answer 1

The correct answer is (B) False cause.

Explanation:

False cause fallacy, also known as the questionable cause, occurs as one event is attributed to be the cause of another without evidence of it, and only based on the fact the events occurred at the same time or one event was followed by the second event.

This fallacy occurs in the argument presented because the fact that five members contracted diabetes is attributed to the fact Allison is the president of the Retirement Club; however, there is no evidence or proof of a connection between these two events, and it is likely the increase in members with diabetes has a different cause.