Question

I don't agree with Jones when she says we should wait for a trial, and I'll tell you why. I don't approve of letting someone get away with murder! That's why I say let's hang him now! What fallacy does this most clearly illustrate?

Answer 1

Answer:

Straw man fallacy.

Explanation:

Fallacy is the use of wrong or invalid argument in the construction of any reasoning to make one's point. It typically involves the use of faulty arguments, which neither is correct nor valid.

Straw man fallacy is the form of fallacy wherein the person giving the argument is basing his points in a such a way that he seems to be refuting his opponent's points. But in reality, he is just refuting an argument that is not even presented by the opponent. In short, he is refuting an argument that is baseless or invisible. It 's like attacking a "straw man", useless and pointless.

From the excerpt, we see the speaker is in favor of hanging the man. While it may be that this "Jones" may have argued for a trial for the accused. The issue of hanging wasn't part of the argument, and not even mentioned. But the speaker is asking for that, thus bringing into the fore the issue of 'hanging' which wasn't even spoken or discussed about.