Chapter 3.3 Flashcards
Appeal to unqualified authority
When the cited authority/witness lacks credibility
Dr. Bradshaw, our family physician, has stated that the creation of muonic atoms of deuterium and tritium hold the key to producing a sustained nuclear fusion reaction at room temperature. In view of Dr. Bradshaw’s expertise as a physician, we must conclude that this is indeed true.
Appeal to Ignorance
Involving something incapable of being proved or has not yet been proved.
No one has ever seen Mr. Andrews drink a glass of wine, beer, or any other alcoholic beverage. Probably Mr. Andrews is a nondrinker.
Hasty Generalization
When theres a reasonable likelihood that the sample is not representative of the group.
On three separate occasions I drank a bottle of Figowitz beer and found it flat and bitter. Probably I would find every bottle of Figowitz beer flat and bitter.
False Cause
Link between premises and conclusion depends on some imagined causal connection that prob. doesn’t exist.
The quality of education in our grade schools and high schools has been declining for years. Clearly, our teachers just aren’t doing their job these days.
Slippery Slope
When the conclusion of an argument rests on an alleged chain reaction.
Entity A has attributes , , , and .
Entity B has attributes , , .
Therefore, entity B probably has attribute also.
Weak analogy
When the analogy is not strong enough to support the conclusion that is drawn
No one would buy a pair of shoes without trying them on. Why should anyone be expected to get married without premarital sex?
