Garry: Immigration improves the economic vitality of aging countries. We see European countries seeking immigrants to prop up their social infrastructure. Eliza

Question

Garry: Immigration improves the economic vitality of aging countries. We see European countries seeking immigrants to prop up their social infrastructure. Elizabeth: So you’re in favor of brining in poor, violent immigrant without doing any background checks? Which fallacy does Elizabeth commit? a) straw man b) tautology c) unit d) appeal to ignorance e) none

Answer 1

Hi Dillen,

The correct answer is a) straw man.

The straw man fallacy occurs when someone presents a distorted or altered version of the speaker's argument and refutes that pretend argument, then claiming victory. Let's take a look at how this is an example of a straw man.

Garry asserts that immigration can help aging countries' economies. This is his argument.

Elizabeth ignores this argument and presents a distorted version. She basically puts words in his mouth, claiming Garry supports opening borders to violent criminals, which isn't what he said. The "straw man" is the pretend argument Elizabeth constructs and refutes.

I hope this helped and thank you for your question!

Lucas