Common Errors Of Reasoning

Question 0

Assuming a casual relationship when only a correlation exists

Answer 0

1. Confusing the coincidence of two events with a casual relation between the two
2. Assumes q casual relationship where only a correlation has been indicated

Question 1

Assuming a casual relationship on the basis of a sequence of events (2)

Answer 1

1. Mistakes the observation that one thing happens after another for proof that that the 2nd thing is the result of the first
2. Mistakes a temporal relationship for a causal relationship

Question 2

Failure to consider an alternative cause for the effect or the cause and effect

Answer 2

1. Fails to exclude an alternative explanation for the observed effect
2. Overlooks the possibility that the same thing may casually contribute both to the cause and effect

Question 3

Failure to consider that the events may be reversed

Answer 3

The author mistakes an effect for a cause

Question 4

Mistaken negation

Answer 4

Taking the non existence of something as evidence that a necessary precondition for the thing also exists

Question 5

Mistaken reversal errors of conditional reasoning

Answer 5

Mistakes being sufficient to justify punishment for being required to justify it
Confuses the sufficient condition with the necessary condition
It treats something that is necessary as something that is sufficient

Question 6

Synonym for sufficient

Answer 6

Assured

Question 7

Circular reasoning (cause and effect can be interchanged)

Answer 7

It assumes what it seeks to establish
Presupposes the truth of what it sets to prove
It takes for granted the very claim that it sets out to establish

Question 8

Attacking the source instead of the argument

Answer 8

Makes an attack on the character of opponents

It is directed against the proponent of a claim rather then against the claim itself

Question 9

Lack of evidence for a position is taken to prove that position is false

Answer 9

Treats failure to prove a claim as constituting denial of that claim
Taking a lack if evidence for a claim as evidence undermining that claim

Question 10

Lack of evidence against a position is taken to prove that the position is true

Answer 10

Treating the failure to establish that a certain claim is false as equivalent to a demonstration that the claim is true

Question 11

Some evidence against a position is taken to prove that the position is false

Answer 11

It confuses undermining an argument in support of a given conclusion with showing that the conclusion itself is false

Question 12

Some evidence for a position is taken to prove that the position is true

Answer 12

The argument takes evidence showing merely that it’s conclusion could be true to constitute evidence showing that the conclusion is in fact true

Question 13

General lack of relevant evidence for the conclusion

Answer 13

The author cites irrelevant data

Draws a conclusion that is broader in scope than is warranted by the evidence advanced

Question 14

Exceptional case/over generalized

Answer 14

Supports a universal claim on the basis of a single example

Question 15

Error of composition: author assigns a characteristic of part of a group to the group as a whole

Answer 15

Takes the view of one lawyer to represent the view of all lawyers

Question 16

Error of division : author assigns a characteristic of a whole group to a part of the group

Answer 16

Presumes without providing justification that what is true of a whole must also be true of it’s constituent parts

Question 17

Survey errors

Answer 17

1. The survey uses a biased argument
2. The survey questions are improperly constructed
3. Respondents to the survey give inaccurate results

Question 18

Straw man: when an author attempts to attack an opponents position by ignoring the actual statements made by the opposing speaker

Answer 18

Portrays opponents views as more extreme then they really are

Question 19

Uncertain use of a term or concept

Answer 19

Depending on the ambiguous use of a key term

Equivocates with respect to a central concept

Question 20

Internal contradiction

Answer 20

The author makes incomparable assumptions

Question 21

Appeal to authority

Answer 21

It relies on the judgment of experts in a matter to which their expertise is irrelevant

Question 22

False analogy

Answer 22

Treats as similar two cases taht are different in a critical aspect