Fallacies

Question 1

What is a Fallacy?

What are the 2 main types of fallacy

What are they called when one of P and Q is false

Answer 1

A fallacy is a faulty kind of argument

Formal fallacies - invalid due to form

Substantive fallacies - issues with content

They can be intentionally (speaker knowingly appeals to pity, fear etc) or unintentionally (just bad reasoning) rolled out.

to test for fallacies we consider whether the conclusion might be false even if the premises are true.

If either P or Q is false we say that P and Q are logically independent

Question 2

2 examples of fallacies

Answer 2

Affirming the Consequent:

If P then Q

P

C

Denying the Antecedent

If P then Q

not P

Q

Question 3

Ad Hominem Fallacy

Ad hominem circumstantial

Tu quoque

Answer 3

Directed at the person but not in relation to their argument.

Personal perhaps

Ad hominem circumstatial - implies the person making the argument has something personal to gain.

Tu Quoue - act as one says, saying an argument is flawed if their behaviour doesnt match