Sheri Argues in Favor of Reducing the Defense Department Budget

question 155

Multiple Choice

Sheri argues in favor of reducing the Defense Department budget. It appears what Sheri wants is no Defense Department at all. But without a Defense Department, we would have no army, navy, or air force, and any foreign nation could invade our country at will. Clearly we can't allow this. Thus, Sheri's argument is crazy.

• A) Missing the point.
• B) Red herring.
• C) Appeal to unqualified authority.
• D) No fallacy.
• E) Straw man.

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Definitions:

Destructive Obedience

The concept where individuals comply with harmful orders or directives, often from an authority figure, against their own personal morals or ethical codes.

Milgram Experiments

A series of social psychology experiments conducted by Stanley Milgram, which measured the willingness of study participants to obey an authority figure who instructed them to perform acts conflicting with their personal conscience.

"Learners"

Individuals engaged in the process of gaining knowledge, understanding, or skill through study, experience, or teaching.

Cognitive Dissonance

The mental distress felt when possessing multiple contradictory beliefs, values, or attitudes.