Question

consider the following example of the logical fallacy of appeal to popularity. complete parts (a) through (d).
apple’s iphone outsells all other smartphones, so it must be the best smartphone on the market.

... (part b?): d. it outsells all other smartphones

c. briefly explain how appeal to popularity occurs in the argument. choose the correct answer below.
a. this conclusion was drawn from an inadequate number of cases that have not been sufficiently analyzed
b. if you read carefully, you’ll recognize that the premise and the conclusion both say essentially the same thing
c. we can conclude that the popularity of the iphone caused it to be the best smartphone on the market.
d. the fact that many people buy the iphone does not necessarily mean it is the best smartphone on the market.

d. make up another argument that exhibits the same fallacy. choose the correct answer below.
a. the new england patriots have won six nfl titles, so they must be the best football team.
b. more people drink coke than pepsi, so coke must be a better soft drink than pepsi.
c. most professional historians rate dwight eisenhower as a better president than william henry harrison, so dwight eisenhower must have been a better president.
d. more people have dogs than turtles, so turtles must be a more exclusive pet.

Explanation:

Part (c)

The appeal to popularity fallacy assumes that because something is popular (many people buy it), it's the best. Option D correctly explains that just because many buy the iPhone (popularity), it doesn't mean it's the best. Option A is hasty generalization, B is circular reasoning, C misinterprets the fallacy as causal.

The appeal to popularity fallacy uses popularity (more people doing/buying something) to conclude it's better. Option B says more people drink Coke (popularity) so it's a better soft drink, matching the fallacy. Option A: winning titles is an achievement, not just popularity. Option C: professional historians' ratings are expert opinions, not popularity. Option D: "exclusive" doesn't follow from popularity (more dogs than turtles).

Answer:

D. The fact that many people buy the iPhone does not necessarily mean it is the best smartphone on the market.

Part (d)