Chapter 8 Flashcards
Using evidence and logic in persuasion
Deductive argument
An argument that reasons from known premises to an inevitable conclusion
Syllogism
The basic structure of a deductive argument that comes to an absolute conclusion
Major premise
The first part of a syllogism, consisting of a general statement about the subject of your argument
Minor premise
A statement about a specific case related to the general characteristics of the major premise
Conclusion
A statement that follows logically from the application of the generalization or factual statement included in the major premise to the specific object or case identified in the minor premise
Categorical syllogism
A syllogism in which the argument is based on membership in a group
Disjunctive syllogism
A syllogism in which the major premise includes two or more mutually exclusive alternatives
Conditional syllogism
A syllogism in which the major premise contains a hypothetical condition and its outcome
Antecedent
The hypothetical condition in the major premise of a conditional syllogism
Consequent
The outcome of the hypothetical condition in the major premise of a conditional syllogism
Valid argument
An argument is valid when the conclusion follows logically from the premises
Sound argument
A valid argument that has true premises
Enthymeme
A syllogism missing one or two of its parts
Inductive argument
Reasoning from individual observations or events to conclude a general principle
Reasoning by example
The process of inferring general conclusions and making general claims from specific cases
Reasoning by analogy
When you compare two similar cases in order to argue that what is true in one case is also true in the other case
Literal analogy
When the two cases being compared are classified in the same way
Figurative analogy
When the two cases being compared are from completely different classifications
Reasoning by cause
Arguments that claim one event or factor produces an effect
Necessary cause
A condition that must be present for the effect to occur
Sufficient cause
A condition that automatically produces the effect in question
Kairos
A person’s ability to adapt to any occasion and deliver a message fit for that moment
Begging-the-question fallacy
When a speaker presumes certain things are facts when they have not yet been proven to be truthful
Non sequitur fallacy
When you make an unwarranted move from one idea to the next
Slippery slope fallacy
A logical fallacy that assumes once an action begins it will lead, undeterred, to an eventual and inevitable conclusion
Post hoc, ergo propter hoc fallacy
From the Latin for “after this, because of this;” assumes that because one event happened after another, then the preceding event causes the event that followed
either-or fallacy
an argument in which you present two options and declare that one must be correct while the other must be incorrect
red herring fallacy
when a speaker introduces an irrelevant issue or piece of evidence to divert attention from the subject of the speech
ad populum fallacy
when we attempt to persuade people by arguing our position is reasonable because so many people are doing it or agree with it
ad verecundium fallacy
an appeal for persuasion based on higher authority or tradition
ad hominem fallacy
when speakers attack the person making the argument and not the argument itself
straw man fallacy
when a speaker ignores the actual position of an opponent and substitutes it with a distorted and exaggerated position
