Which formal fallacy is committed in the following argument: 'No politicians are idiots. Some voters are not idiots. Therefore, some voters are not politicians'?

AExclusive Premises ✓ Correct

BExistential fallacy

CAffirming the consequent

DDenying the antecedent

Correct answer: (A) Exclusive Premises

Explanation

The argument commits the fallacy of exclusive premises.

'No politicians are idiots' is a negative premise, and 'some voters are not idiots' is also negative.

Both premises are therefore negative.

From two negative premises no valid conclusion can ever be drawn.

Reasoning from wholly negative premises is the exclusive-premises fallacy.

Want more like this? Create a free account to practise a full test, track your progress, and get spaced-repetition review.