Consider this argument: The kidnappers have taken eight people hostage and are holding them at a farmhouse just outside town. If the SWAT team assaults the farmhouse, the hostages could be killed. But if we give into the kidnappers' demands for ransom and safe passage out of the country, we'll only be encouraging more kidnappings of innocent people. What can we do? That argument is an example of ________.A) the False Dilemma fallacyB) the fallacy of Playing with WordsC) a fallacy of Erroneous GeneralizationD) a warranted argumentE) a valid argument

Question

Consider this argument: The kidnappers have taken eight people hostage and are holding them at a farmhouse just outside town. If the SWAT team assaults the farmhouse, the hostages could be killed. But if we give into the kidnappers' demands for ransom and safe passage out of the country, we'll only be encouraging more kidnappings of innocent people. What can we do? That argument is an example of ________.A)  the False Dilemma fallacyB)  the fallacy of Playing with WordsC)  a fallacy of Erroneous GeneralizationD)  a warranted argumentE)  a valid argument

Terence Martin · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : A, Explanation :  This argument presents a false dilemma by only presenting two extreme and unrealistic options as the only possibilities without considering other alternatives, such as negotiating with the kidnappers or pursuing other forms of law enforcement action.

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