eng midterm Flashcards
criticizing/discrediting an argument mainly based on (assumptions about) the person saying it
Ad Hominem
Someone who should know something about a topic makes a claim, but doesnt make that person right in this particular instance.
Argument from False Authority
If it hasn’t been proven false, it must be true
If it hasn’t been proven true, it must be false
Appeal to Ignorance
Circular logic that assumes false ideas are true to prove a point, keeps returning to the original information/point in question
Begging the question
Forming a conclusion based on partial evidence, or assuming one is true of all
Hasty Generalization
A statement that doesn’t follow, no real logical connection between two statements; could be related in subject matter, but doesn’t even have to be
Non-Sequitur
Presenting the notion that only two extreme options exist, no middle ground
False Dichotomy
The worst will result from small changes
Slippery Slope
Setting up a cause/effect relationship when a definite correlation cannot be proven
Faulty Causality
Assuming that A caused B simple because A happened prior to B
Post Hoc
Oversimplification of one’s argument that makes it easier to attack
Straw Man argument
A distraction to shift attention from the issue at hand
Red Herring
Appeals to the hearts of people and gets them emotionally involved
Sentimental Appeals
Ad Miseridordiam
Pity
Persuading readers by frightening/threatening them (Ad Baculum)
Scare Tactic
Peer pressure; encourages people to agree with reasons because many others do (Ad Populum)
Bandwagon
Appeals to specific demographic of Bandwagon- identify with place in society
Snob Appeal/ Plain Folk
Speaker assumes he is best and that is why he is right;
Dogmatism
Lying by omission, deliberately hiding the entire truth
Equivocation
misleading comparison between two things, bad metaphor
Faulty Analogy (False Equivalence)
Justifying an error in reasoning by pointing out that one’s opponent has made the same error
Tu Quoque
Perceived controversial behaviors or feelings are explained in a rational or logical manner to avoid the true explanation
Rationalization
An unfair attempt to make someone responsible for the beliefs or actions of others
Guilt by Association
