APHI

Question 1

what is equivocation

Answer 1

intentionally switching of the meaning of the term during the reasoning

something we want to avoid

Question 2

what is ambiguity

Answer 2

a type of imprecision; when the context of a term or phrase cannot be used to sufficiently rule out all the term’s possible meanings but one.

Question 3

what is vagueness

Answer 3

imprecision (x to what extent?) has borderline cases

something we should avoid

Question 4

can terms be vague and ambiguous

Answer 4

yes

Question 5

what is operationalization

Answer 5

the method used to tell whether the term applies

Question 6

what are precisng definitions

Answer 6

definitions that make the correct meaning more precise

Question 7

what are ostensive definitions

Answer 7

definitions by example (pointing)

Question 8

what is a necessary condition

Answer 8

when x is needed in order to be y

Question 9

what is a sufficient condition

Answer 9

if x is enough to be y

Question 10

what is the principle of charity

Answer 10

try to make sense of odd statements, don’t assume that a speaker is asserting an obvious inconsistency

Question 11

what is the principle of fidelity

Answer 11

preserve the intended meaning of the speakers original statements when interpreting them or analyzing them

Question 12

what to do about anecdotes

Answer 12

don’t ignore them, if no evidence is provided alongside an anecdote don’t make a decision

Question 13

what is euphemism

Answer 13

replacing harsh sounding phrase with one that is more or less the same but is more gentle

pacification, transfer of population or rectification of frontiers, and elimination of unreliable elements

Question 14

what is the burden of proof

Answer 14

the duty to prove some statement that you advocated

something that causes arguments to end if someone fails to accept it

the burden can easily shift

it falls on the shoulders of the person who makes the strangest statement

Question 15

what is the red herring fallacy

Answer 15

intentionally diverting someones attention from one issue to another

Question 16

how do you avoid attention-diverting fallacious reasoning

Answer 16

determine what the issue at stake is then ask if the issue is being addressed

Question 17

what is the avoiding the question fallacy

Answer 17

avoids the issue, often asking a question in response to a question

Question 18

what are fallacies

Answer 18

errors in reasoning

Question 19

what are the steps in a dialogical approach

Answer 19

1. formulate a definition
2. search for counter examples
3. revise original definitions
4. repeat steps 2&3

Question 20

what are anecdotes

Answer 20

reports of one individuals personal experiences ( the problem is what we try to infer from them)

taking one case and trying to apply it to all, many or most we are overusing what we are trying to say

Question 21

what is the ad hominem fallacy

Answer 21

focusing on the reasoners errors rather than pointing out some error in the reasoning itself

Question 22

what is the fallacy of circular reasoning

Answer 22

not providing proof to back up reasoning just restating prior information (this can be used to make someone admit some evidence)

Question 23

what’s is the straw man fallacy

Answer 23

intentionally misrepresenting someones argument so it’ll be easier to attack

Question 24

wha is the false dilemma fallacy

Answer 24

Unfairly presenting few choices implying that a choice must be made only between the offered choices

Question 25

what is the black-white fallacy

Answer 25

A false dilemma fallacy that limits you to only two choices.

e.g.: your either with us or against us

Question 26

fallacy of faulty comparison

Answer 26

Arguing by comparison but comparing the wrong things.

Question 27

what is the fallacious appeal to authority

Answer 27

1. Is the authority an authority on this subject?
2. Do the authorities agree with each other (except for the occasional lone wolf) ?
3. Can the person who quotes the authority be trusted to report honestly and accurately what the authority said?
4. Can the authority be trusted to tell the truth on this topic?

if yes to all, accept

Question 28

what is the slippery slope fallacy

Answer 28

assuming that the first step would lead to the worst possible outcome ( one thing leads to another)

Question 29

what is non sequitur

Answer 29

an argument in which the reasons given are irrelevant or very weak. All fallacies of argumentation are non sequiturs.

Question 30

what is a genetic fallacy

Answer 30

attempting to discredit a claim because of its origin (genesis) when such a criticism is irrelevant to the claim (similar to ad hominem)

Question 31

how do you escape from between the horns of a dilemma

Answer 31

Rightly complaining that the dilemma you face is unfair and that there is another choice that you should be offered.