Question

Janet says: “Daria is not a person of color, so I see no reason why we should listen to her on the issue of minority race relations. Jose is Hispanic; he’s the one we should listen to.” As a critical thinker, can you describe, in your own words, the flaw in Janet’s claim? Once you have completed your description in your own words, state which of the tests of worthiness and reasonableness (truthfulness, logical strength, relevance, or non-circularity.) Janet’s argument fails and which fallacy she commits.

Answer 1

From the quote, Janet has expressed two statements in the context of minority race relations.

i. Daria is not a person of color, so I see no reason why we should listen to her on the issue of minority race relations.
ii. Jose is Hispanic; he’s the one we should listen to.

All people in the Hispanic race are not colorless and there is a sect of While Hispanics in the United States. So the argument of Janet that one should discuss minority race relations with people with color is not correct because Jose is Hispanic and can be colorless.

In my world view, the color of the skin and minority are not tightly linked as it is just another bias. A white-skinned person could be considered as part of a minority race in particular geography where black-skinned people occupied a sizable share. Similarly, the Asian race would be a majority in a country like India but at the same time, they are a minority in the United States and there are white-skinned (Indo-Aryan origin), and dark/brown skin (Dravidians). So the color of the skin is not an essential condition to make a person eligible for a discussion on minority race relations.

1. The test of truthfulness is failed because the projected claim 'color of the skin as an identifier for the minority' is not true.
2. Test of Logical Strength is failed because the projected claim, 'color of the skin as an identifier for the minority' is false and the conclusion, 'to choose Hispanics to discuss minority of race' is also false.
3. Test of Relevance is failed because the truth of the projected claim, 'color of the skin as an identifier for the minority' has no dependence on the truth of the reason, 'to choose Hispanics to discuss minority of race'.
4. Test of Non-Circularity is failed as the truth of the reason, 'to choose Hispanics to discuss minority of race' has no dependence on the truth of the claim,'color of the skin as an identifier for the minority'.