"You cannot trust his views on pollution because he drives a large car." This is an example of

Correct answer: A. an ad hominem attack

  • A. an ad hominem attack
  • B. a false dilemma
  • C. a hasty generalisation
  • D. circular reasoning

Explanation

The argument attacks the person's behaviour rather than examining the merits of what he says, and inconsistency in a speaker does not make their claim false. This particular version is sometimes called tu quoque. The claim about pollution must be assessed on its own evidence.

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Critical thinking examines how conclusions follow from evidence, including claims, assumptions, arguments, inferences and relevant facts. Questions ask you to identify hidden assumptions, distinguish strong from weak evidence, assess cause and effect, recognise common reasoning errors, and decide which statement strengthens or weakens an argument.

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