Fallacies

Question 1

Appeal to force

Answer 1

Threat by arguer to listener

Ex. Do what I say or I will hurt you.

Question 2

Appeal to Pity

Answer 2

Arguer attempts to gain pity from listener

Ex. I cheated on the test, but if I fail the class I lose my scholarship. You can’t fail me!

Question 3

Ad populum

Answer 3

Arguer uses listener’s desire to be loved, recognized, and accepted to get them to accept conclusion.

Direct ad populum- uses mob mentality to get acceptance for conclusion

Indirect ad populum- argument aimed at person’s relationship with crowd
a. Bandwagon- everyone believes it you should too
b. Appeal to vanity- connect crowd’s love to attributes of a famous person
c. Appeal to snobbery- appeal to small group that’s supposed to be superior
d. appeal to tradition- argues that bc something has always been that way, it should always be that way

Question 4

Ad hominem

Answer 4

2 arguers; one responds to claims by attacking the other person and not argument

a. Ad hominem abusive- arguer verbally abuses the first
b. Ad hominem circumstantial- attempt to discredit opponent by saying their circumstances cause them to argue a certain way
c. Tu quoque- second arguer tries to show that first is a hypocrit

Question 5

Accident

Answer 5

A general rule is misapplied to a case it isn’t supposed to cover

Ex. It’s wrong to hurt others. So, when a doctor performs surgery they are doing wrong.

Question 6

Straw Man

Answer 6

2 arguers; arguer attacks a distorted argument of original argument to make their position seem stronger.

Ex. It starts with wearing masks and ends with erosion of all rights. Wake up and don’t let them steal your freedom

Question 7

Red herring

Answer 7

Arguer diverts attention by changing subject to a different argument and then draws conclusion to this new argument/premises.

Question 8

Missing the Point

Answer 8

Arguer draws conclusion different to what was in premises

Ex. Stand your ground laws have been abused in every state in which they have been enacted. Clearly, we need to ban the private use of hand guns in our country.

Question 9

Appeal to Unqualified Authority

Answer 9

Arguer cites an untrustworthy authority

Ex. The owner of the local vape shop says that vaping is safer than smoking. And she would know, she owns a vape shop.

Question 10

Appeal to ignorance

Answer 10

Uses lack of evidence for evidence

Ex. Germs aren’t real. I can’t see them so they aren’t real.

Question 11

Hasty generalization

Answer 11

Conclusion about a whole group is reached from a sample that isn’t representative of that group; anecdotal

Ex. The last girl I dated was crazy. All girls must be crazy.

Question 12

False Cause

Answer 12

Link between premises and conclusion depends on nonexistent/weak connection

A. Post hoc ergo propter hoc- an event caused another bc 1st event happened before 2nd
B. Non causa pro causa- assumed case isn’t really the cause and mistake is not based on temporal succession
C. Oversimplified cause- only 1 cause is presented when there are actually many
D. Gambler’s fallacy- conclusion depends on the supposition that independent events in a game of chance are related

Question 13

Slippery slope

Answer 13

Conclusion of an argument depends on chain reaction that we have no sufficient reason to assume will occur.

Ex. We shouldn’t legalize marijuana; it’s a gateway drug. Then people will be addicted to crack. Soon, everyone will be addicted to drugs

Question 14

Weak analogy

Answer 14

Analogy when connection is not strong enough to support conclusion

Ex. Animals feel pain when they are cut and bleed. Tree sap is like blood. So, if you cut a tree and it oozes sap it must also be feeling pain.

Question 15

Begging the question

Answer 15

Assume the point it’s trying to prove, support for argument is not obvious; usually leads in a circle

Ex. Smoking tobacco can kill you because it is deadly

Question 16

Complex question

Answer 16

1 question contains others, so giving one answer unveils a presumed condition; often a trap

Ex. What did you do with the money you stole?

Question 17

False dichotomy

Answer 17

Presents 2 options as if they are the only 2 possibilities; either, or; if, then

Ex. Dad take me to the Zach Bryan concert, or you don’t love me

Question 18

Suppressed evidence

Answer 18

Arguer hides evidence or argument fails to meet total evidence requirement and wants listener to presume all information has been given

Ex. Jelly Bellies are low-fat, gluten-free, and only 2 calories a serving. So, they must be good for you.
-the amount of sugar inside and serving amount is suppressed evidence

Question 19

Equivocation

Answer 19

Ambiguity of a word or phrase; word is used in 2 senses

Ex. Nothing is better than love. But, a cold beer is better than nothing. So, a cold beer is better than love.
Ex. Doctors are persons. So a good doctor is a good person.

Question 20

Amphiboly

Answer 20

Ambiguity of grammar use; can usually be fixed by adding/removing commas

Ex. Let’s eat Grandma! Let’s eat, Grandma!

Question 21

Composition

Answer 21

Assumed that parts of something have a certain attribute, so the whole will have it too. Part— whole

Ex. Each lego piece is sturdy. So, the whole lego statue is sturdy.

Question 22

Division

Answer 22

Transference of attributes of a whole to its parts
whole——parts

Ex. The car is broken. So, each of its parts must be broken.