Fallacies Flashcards
Fallacy
A defect in an argument that arises from a mistake in reasoning or the creation of an illusion that makes a bad argument appear good
Formal fallacy
A fallacy that can be identified by merely examining the form or structure of an argument
Informal fallacies
A fallacy that can be detected only through analysis of the contents of an argument; avoiding; detecting in ordinary language; generally
Fallacies of relevance
A group of informal fallacies that occur because the premises of an argument are irrelevant to the conclusion
Appeal to force
An informal fallacy that occurs when an argued threatens a reader or listener for the purpose of getting him or her accept a conclusion
Appeal to pity
An informal fallacy that occurs when an argues attempts to evoke pity from a reader or listener for the purpose of getting him or her to accept a conclusion
Appeal to the people
An informal fallacy that occurs when an arguer plays on a certain psychological needs for the purpose of getting the reader or listener to accept a conclusion
Appeal to fear
A variety of appeal to the people that occurs when an arguer trumps up a fear of something and then uses that fear as the premise for some conclusion
Bandwagon argument
A variety of the appeal-to-the-people fallacy that occurs when the arguer plays on the reader’s or listener’s need to feel part of a group, “Barbara”, syllogism, Barcan Formula, Barometer, invention of, Barrow, Harriet, Bayesian, Thomas
Appeal to vanity
A variety of the appeal-to-the-people fallacy that occurs when an arguer plays on the vanity of the reader or listener
Appeal to snobbery
A variety of the appeal-to-the-people fallacy that occurs when the arguer plays on the reader’s or listener’s need to feel superior
Appeal to tradition
A fallacy that occurs when an arguer cites the fact that something has become a tradition as grounds for a conclusion
Argument against the person
An informal fallacy that occurs when an arguer verbally attacks the person of a second arguer for the purpose of discrediting his or her argument
Ad hominem abusive
A variety of the argument-against-the-person fallacy that occurs when an arguer verbally abused a second arguer for the purpose of discrediting that person’s argument
Ad hominem circumstantial
A variety of the argument-against-the-person fallacy that occurs when an arguer cites circumstances that affect a second arguer, for the purpose of discrediting that person’s argument, Adams, John Couch
The fallacy of accident
An informal fallacy that occurs when a general rule is wrongly applied to an atypical specific case, Ackerman, Wilhelm, Ad hoc, modifications, Ad hominem
Straw man
A fallacy that occurs when the arguer misinterprets an opponent’s position for the purpose of more easily attacking it, demolishes the misinterpreted argument, and then proceeds to conclude that the original argument has been demolished, Striking predictions
Missing the point
An informal fallacy that occurs when the premise of an argument entails one particular conclusion but a completely different conclusion is actually drawn, Mnemonic device, for distribution; for sufficient conditions, necessary conditions, Mob mentality
Red herring
A fallacy that occurs when the arguer diverts the attention of the reader or listener by addressing extraneous issues and finishes by presuming that some conclusion has been established, Redi, Francesco, Reducing the number of terms in a categorical syllogism, reference, regression line, relation
Fallacies of weak induction
A group of informal fallacies that occur because the connection between the premises and conclusion is not strong enough to support the conclusion
The appeal to unqualified authority
An informal fallacy that occurs when an arguer cites the testimony of an unqualified authority in support of a conclusion
Appeal to ignorance
An informal fallacy that occurs when an arguer uses the fact that nothing has been proved about something, as evidence in support of some conclusion about that thing
Fallacies of presumption
A group of informal fallacies that occur when the premises of an argument presume what they purport to prove
Fallacies of ambiguity
A group of fallacies that occur because of an ambiguity in the premises or conclusion, fallacies of categorical syllogisms
Fallacies of Illicit transference
A group of informal fallacies that involves the incorrect transference of an attribute from the parts of something onto the whole, from the whole onto the parts
Begging the question ( Petitio Principii )
An informal fallacy that occurs when the arguer creates the illusion that inadequate premises provide adequate support for the conclusion-by leaving out a key premise, by restating the conclusion as a premise, or by reasoning in a circle, Benassi, Victor A., Bentham, Jeremy, Berti, Gasparo
Complex question
An informal fallacy that occurs when a single question that is really two or more questions is asked, and a single answer is applied to both questions
False dichotomy
An informal fallacy that is committed when an arguer presents two nonjointly exhaustive alternatives as if they were jointly exhaustive and then eliminates one, leaving the other as the conclusion, Falsifiability criterion
Suppressed Evidence
A fallacy that occurs when the arguer ignores relevant evidence that outweighs the presented evidence and entails a very different conclusion
The fallacy of equivocation
An informal fallacy that occurs because some word or group of words is used either implicitly or explicitly in two different senses; division and, escaping between the horns of a dilemma.
Exp. premises > word or phrase used in two senses > conclusion
The fallacy of amphiboly
An informal fallacy that occurs when the conclusion of an argument depends on the misinterpretation of a statement that is ambiguous owing to some structural defect
Exp. premises- mentions ambiguous statement > conclusion- misinterprets that statement
The fallacy of composition
An informal fallacy that occurs when the conclusion of an argument depends on the erroneous transference of an attribute from the parts of something onto the hole
Exp. Parts > attribute is improperly transferred > whole
The fallacy of division
An informal fallacy that occurs when the conclusion or an argument depends on the erroneous transferenceof an attribute
