Chapter 6- Relevance Fallacies Flashcards
What is an Argumentum Ad Hominem?
Dismiss another person’s position on an issue by discussing the person, and not discussing the issue or that person’s position on it.
What is Poisoning the well? (Argumentum Ad Hominem)
Dismiss what someone is going to say by talking about the person’s character. *They haven’t said anything yet, the person who made the statement is “poisoning the well”. “Going to say”
What is Guilt by Association^ (Argumentum Ad Hominem)
When a speaker tries to persuade us to dismiss a belief by telling us that someone we don’t like has that belief
What is a Genetic Fallacy
When a speaker argues that the origin of contention in and of itself automatically renders false
What is a Straw man?
When a speaker attempts to dismiss a contention by distorting or misinterpreting it (dismiss a claim by misinterpreting it)
*Change the meaning of what has been said
What is a False Dilemma?
When someone tries to establish a conclusion by offering it as the only alternative to something we will find unacceptable
What is a Perfectionist Fallacy? (False Dilemma)
When a speaker ignores options between “perfection” and “nothing”
What is the Line-drawing Fallacy^ (False Dilemma)
When a speaker assumes that either a crystal-clear line can be drawn between 2 things, or there is no difference between them
What is Misplacing the Burden of Proof?
When people try to support or prove their position by misplacing the burden of proof
(Ex: obviously the president’s birth certificate is a forgery. Can you prove it isn’t?)
What is Appeal to Ignorance? (Misplacing the Burden of Proof)
When someone asserts that we should believe a claim because nobody has proved it false
What is Begging the question (assuming what you’re trying to prove?
When a speaker tries to “support” a contention by offering “evidence” what amounts to a repackaging of the very contention in question
What is Appeal to Emotion?
When a speaker “supports” a contention by playing on our emotions rather than by producing a real argument
What is Argument from Outrage? What is Scare Tactics? What is Appeal to Pity? + Other Appeals to Emotion
- Attempts to convince by making us angry
- When a speaker tries to scare us into accepting irrelevant conclusions
- When a speaker tries to convince by arousing pity
Other: Guilt= Guilt tripping, Jealousy= Appeal to jealousy, Envy= Appeal to Envy
What is Irrelevant conclusions?
- Two wrongs make a right
- Denial
- Circular Arguments
What is Wishful thinking? (Irrelevant conclusions)
Occurs when we allow hopes and desires to influence our judgement and beliefs; can blind a person to even the most obvious facts
