Capter 6: Fallacies Flashcards
Begging the question/Arguing in a Circle
The fallacy of attempting to establish the conclusion of an argument by using that conclusion as a premise. Also called arguing in a circle.
UP
Apple polishing
The attempt to persuade people to accept a conclusion by flattering them.
What is the difference between fallacies with irrelevant premises and fallacies with unacceptable premises?
Irrelevant premises are irrelevant; they have nothing to do with the conclusion. Meanwhile, unacceptable premises are relevant, but don’t support the conclusion.
not sure how important Tu quoque (“you’re another”)
ad hominem fallacy that argues that a claim must be true (or false) just because the claimant is hypocritical.
IP
Appeal to pity
Flavor or appeal to pity. It is the attempt to persuade people to accept a conclusion by evoking their pity, compassion, or empathy.
IP
What is a fallacy?
Common and flawed arguments. comes in 2 categories: those with irrelevant premises, and those with unacceptable premises.
Appeal to the person (or ad hominem, meaning “to the man”)
IP
The fallacy of rejecting a claim by criticizing the person who makes it rather than the claim itself.
-The person (good or bad) is separated from their argument.
IP
Faulty analogy
An argument in which things being compared are not sufficiently similar in relevant ways.
UP
False dilemma
The fallacy of asserting that there are only two alternatives to consider when there are actually more than two.
UP
Hasty generalization
The fallacy of drawing a conclusion about a target group based on an inadequate sample size.
UP
Composition
Arguing that what is true of the parts must be true of the whole. The error is thinking that the characteristics of the parts are somehow transferred to the whole, something that is not always the case.
IP
Scare tactics
The attempt to persuade people to accept a conclusion by engendering in them an unwarranted fear.
IP
Appeal to tradition
The fallacy of arguing that a claim must be true just because it’s part of a tradition.
IP
Two wrongs make a right
Arguing that you’re doing something morally wrong is justified because someone else has done the same (or similar) thing.
Appeal to popularity (or to the masses)
The fallacy of arguing that a claim must be true merely because a substantial number of people believe it.
IP
Genetic fallacy
Arguing that a claim is true or false solely because of its abstract or nonhuman origins
IP
Straw man
The fallacy of distorting, weakening, or oversimplifying someone’s position so it can be more easily attacked or refuted.
IP
Appeal to emotion
The fallacy of using emotions in place of relevant reasons as premises in an argument.
IP
Appeal to ignorance
The weight of evidence or argument required by one side in a debate or disagreement.
IP
Equivocation
The fallacy of using a word in two different senses in an argument.
IP
Decision-point fallacy
Arguing that because a line or distinction cannot be draw at any point in a process, there are no difference or gradations in that process.
UP
Slippery slope
The fallacy of arguing, without good reasons, that taking a particular step will inevitable lead to further, undesirable steps.
UP
Division
The fallacy of arguing that what is true of the whole must be true of the parts. The error is thinking that characteristics of the whole must transfer to the parts or that traits of the group must be the same as traits of individuals in the group.
IP
Red herring
The fallacy of deliberately raising an irrelevant issue during an argument. The basic pattern is to put forth a claim and then couple it with additional claims that may seem to support it but in fact are mere distractions.
IP
