Chapter 7- Induction Fallacies

Question 1

What are Induction Fallacies?

Answer 1

Arguments that offer at best only weak support for their conclusions

Question 2

Types of Generalizations

Answer 2

From too Few Cases (Hasty) arriving at a general statement by citing too few supporting the cases (anecdotal evidence)
ϖ Red heads Example

Generalizing from exceptional cases: arriving at a general statement by citing an unusual supporting case

Accident: when a speaker assumes that a general statement automatically applies to a specific case that is exceptional

Question 3

Weak Analogy

Answer 3

Weak argument based on debatable or unimportant similarities between 2 or more things (connections make them stronger)

Question 4

Fallacious appeal to athority

Answer 4

When a speaker tries to support a contention by offering as evidence the opinion of non-authoritative source (Incorrect when the authority is not an appropriate authority, just pretending to be one.

Question 5

Fallacious appeal to popularity

Answer 5

When a speaker treats an issue that cannot be settle by public opinion as if it can (proof surrogate)

Question 6

Types of fallacious appeal to popularity

1. Fallacious appeal to common practice
2. Bandwagon Fallacy
3. Subjective Fallacy

Answer 6

Fallacious appeal to common practice: when a speaker tries to justify a practice on grounds that is traditional or is commonly practiced
o Most people do it

Bandwagon fallacy: when a speaker uses “everyone thinks” or “everyone knows”

Subjective fallacy: things aren’t true because you believe them to be true

Question 7

Fallacies related to cause and effect:

Answer 7

Timing of 2 variables relative to each other, in and of itself, is sufficient to establish that one is the cause and the other is the effect

Question 8

What are Slippery Slopes?

Answer 8

Argument that rests on an unsupported warning that is controversial and tendentious to the effect that something will progress by degrees to an undesirable outcome
- If we let X happen, Y is going to happen. Y is far worse than X
- There isn’t evidence that it will take you to the more troubling point (Y)
Mild version to extreme version
Ex: If you start with small drugs you will eventually become an addict

Question 9

Untestable explanation

Answer 9

When someone offers an explanation that could not be tested even in principle

Question 10

Line-drawing:

Answer 10

When a speaker assumes that either a crystal-clear line can be drawn between 2 things, or there is no difference between them