Which of the following fallacies is used in the following example?
Eloise dropped a mirror and broke it. An hour later she was in a car accident. That was the first in what was to be seven-year stream of bad luck.
A. Post hoc ergo propter hoc
B. Overgeneralization
C. Non Sequitur
D. Argument by analogy
E. Ad hominem
Answer (2)
The scenario presents a clear case of the Post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy, where one event is inaccurately presumed to cause another simply based on their sequence. Eloise believes her accident is a result of breaking the mirror, illustrating faulty causal reasoning. Recognizing such fallacies is essential for sound argumentation. ;
The correct answer is A. Post hoc ergo propter hoc, which refers to the fallacy of assuming that one event causes another simply because it occurred earlier. Eloise's belief that breaking the mirror caused her car accident is a classic example of this fallacy. Identifying such fallacies is important for clear and logical reasoning.
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