Argument Terms and Fallacies : Part 1 Flashcards
Ad hominem
Latin for “to the man”, this fallacy refers to the specific diversionary tactic of switching the argument from the issue at hand to the characters of the other speaker. Example : “How can you argue your case for vegetarianism when you are enjoying your steak?”
Ad populum ( bandwagon appeal )
This fallacy occurs when evidence boils down to “everybody’s doing it, so it must be a good thing to do.” Example : “But officer, I don’t deserve a ticket; everyone goes this speed. If I went any slower, I wouldn’t be going with the stream of traffic.”
Appeal to false authority
This fallacy occurs when someone who has no experience to speak on an issue is cited as an authority. Example : House M.D.
Argument
A process of reasoned inquiry; a persuasive discourse resulting in a coherent and considered movement from a claim to a conclusion. Example : All whales are mammals.
All mammals are warm-blooded.
So all whales are warm-blooded.
Assumption ( warrant )
In the Toulmin model, the warrant expresses the assumption necessarily shared by the speaker and the audience. Example : A hearing aid helps most people to hear better.
Backing
In the Toulmin model, backing consists of further assurances or data without which the assumption lacks authority. Example : Hearing aids are available locally.
Bandwagon appeal ( ad populum )
This fallacy occurs when evidence boils down to “everybody’s doing it, so it must be a good thing to do.” Example : “But officer, I don’t deserve a ticket; everyone goes this speed. If I went any slower, I wouldn’t be going with the stream of traffic.”
Begging the question
A fallacy in which a claim is based on evidence or support that is in doubt. It “begs” a question whether the support itself is sound. Example : “If such actions were not illegal, then they would not be prohibited by the law.”
Circular reasoning
A fallacy in which the writer repeats the claim as a way to provide evidence. Example : X is true because of Y.
Y is true because of X.
Claim
Also called assertion or proposition, a claim states the argument’s main idea or position. Has to be arguable. Example : You should use a hearing aid.
Claim of fact
A claim of fact asserts that something is true or not true. Example : The death penalty as used in the US is ineffective and impractical.
Claim of policy
A claim of policy proposes a change. Example : The private ownership of automatic and semi- automatic weapons in the US should be banned.
Claim of value
A claim of value argues that something is good or bad, right of wrong. Example : Opera is not as entertaining as musical comedy.
Classical oration
Five part argument structure used by classical rhetoricians. Introduction ( exordium ), Narration ( narratio ), Confirmation ( confirmatio ), Refutation ( refutatio ), and Conclusion ( peroratio ) Example: In ancient Greek and Roman society, rhetoricians developed an established method of argument known today as classical oration.
Introduction ( exordium )
Introduces the reader to the subject under discussion. Example : In his exordium the author warns his readers that they should expect a radically different interpretation of the causes of the war.
