fallacies Flashcards
(24 cards)
fallacy
error in reasoning that may appear to be correct at first glance
formal fallacy
error in reasoning in form or logical structure of argument alone, not in content.
informal fallacy
error in reasoning NOT simply due to form of argument. must examine content of reasoning.
appeal to authority fallacy
stating an argument from an authority, but authority cited is not actually an expert on the matter.
ad hominem/argument against person fallacy
attacking person rather than argument, then concluding argument has been defeated.
abusive ad hominem fallacy
attacking person’s character rather than content of argument.
circumstantial ad hominem fallacy
attacking person’s circumstances rather than content of argument.
guilt by association ad hominem fallacy
attacking person’s associates rather than content of argument.
appeal to pity fallacy/argumentum ad misericordiam fallacy
attempts to evoke pity from audience and use that, rather than reason, to move audience to desired conclusion.
begging the question fallacy
presenting an argument by employing the conclusion as a premise in support of itself. premise presupposes conclusion.
red herring fallacy
arguer diverts attention from point at hand by introducing an irrelevant issue and throwing argument off track.
straw man fallacy
in an argument, person A summarizes person B’s argument then criticizes. fallacy committed when:
a) A’s summary is an unfair representation of B’s argument. it is weakened, exaggerated, or distorted.
b) A attacks only unfair summary, not B’s original argument.
c) A concludes B’s original argument has been defeated.
hasty generalization fallacy
prematurely jumping to a conclusion.
slippery slope fallacy/domino argument
person objects to a position on the grounds that it will set off a chain reaction of undesirable effects, but no good reason for supposing the chain reaction will occur is given. (good enough reason = effect, not good enough reason = fallacy.)
false dilemma/dichotomy fallacy
person assumes that there are only 2 alternatives to some matter, rules one out, then concludes in favour of the other alternative when unconsidered options exist.
suppressed evidence fallacy
arguer leaves out evidence that would count heavily against the argument’s conclusion.
equivocation fallacy
arguer uses word or phrase to mean one thing in an argument, but uses same word or phrase to mean something else at another point in the argument in such a way that premises are only true in one interpretation of the word, while conclusion follows only based on incorrect interpretation.
composition fallacy
person assumes without justification that what is true of parts of the whole is also true for the whole.
division fallacy
person assumes without justification that what is true of the whole is also true of parts of the whole.
weak analogy fallacy
argument that relies on analogy but the two things being compared aren’t actually alike in their relevant aspects.
appeal to people/argumentum ad populum fallacy
attempts to use irrational emotion of a crowd, rather than reason, to nudge people towards a conclusion.
genetic fallacy
person attacks argument by disparaging it’s origin rather than the content of the argument, and this alone is offered as reason to reject the view.
naturalistic fallacy
explaining something in simplistic terms of it’s “natural properties” such as pleasant or desirable. “good” cannot be defined in terms of intrinsic value.
is-ought to fallacy
normative belief described in terms of prescriptive “ought to” statements. because of belief A you should do behaviour B.
