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If I were a heavy smoker, smoking would shorten my life; that is why I do not smoke, and I expect to live a long and healthy life. Which fallacy is committed in the above argument?

AExistential fallacy
BUndistributed middle
CAffirming the consequent
DDenying the antecedent ✓ Correct
Correct answer: (D) Denying the antecedent
Explanation

The argument denies the antecedent.

Its form is: if I were a heavy smoker (P), smoking would shorten my life (Q).

The speaker then asserts not-P, that he does not smoke.

From not-P he concludes not-Q, a long and healthy life.

Denying P does not license denying Q, since Q may hold for other reasons.

Inferring not-Q from a true conditional plus not-P is denying the antecedent.

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