APL Fallacy Terms

Question 1

fallacy

Answer 1

defects that weaken arguments

Question 2

hasty generalization

Answer 2

making assumptions about a whole group or range of cases based on a sample that is inadequate (usually because it is atypical or too small). stereotypes about people (librarians are shy and smart”,”wealthy people are snobs”, etc.) are a common example of the principle underlying hasty generalization

Question 3

missing the point

Answer 3

premises of an argument to support a particular conclusion- but not the conclusion that the arguer actually draws

Question 4

post hoc (aka false clause)

Answer 4

assuming that because B comes after A, A caused B. of course sometimes one event really does cause another one that comes later- for example, if i register for a class and my name later appears on the roll, it’s true that the first event caused one that came later. but sometimes 2 events that seem related in time aren’t really related as cause and event. that is, correlation isn’t same thing as conclusion.

Question 5

slippery slope

Answer 5

arguer claims that a sort of chain reaction usually ending in some dire consequence will take place, but there’s really not enough evidence for that assumption

Question 6

weak analogy

Answer 6

many arguments rely on an analogy between 2 or more objects, ideas, or situations

Question 7

appeal to authority

Answer 7

often we add strength to our arguments by referring to respected sources or authorities and explaining their positions on issues we’re discussing

Question 8

ad populum

Answer 8

latin name of this fallacy means “to the people”. several versions of ad populum but what they all have in common is that the arguer takes advantage of desire most people have to be liked and to fit in with others and uses that desire to try to get audience to accept his/her argument

Question 9

ad hominem and tu quoque

Answer 9

focus our attention on people rather than on arguments or evidence

Question 10

appeal to pity

Answer 10

takes place when an arguer tries to get people to accept a conclusion by making them feel sorry for someone

Question 11

appeal to ignorance

Answer 11

arguer basically says “Look, there’s no conclusive evidence on issue at hand. therefore, you should accept my conclusion on this issue.”

Question 12

straw man

Answer 12

one way of making our own arguments stronger is to anticipate and respond in advance to the arguments that an opponent might make

Question 13

red herring

Answer 13

partway through an argument, arguer goes off on a tangent, raising a side issue that distracts audience from what’s really at stake. often, they never really return to original issue

Question 14

false dichotomy

Answer 14

arguer sets up situations so it looks there are only 2 choices.