fallacies Flashcards
(25 cards)
consist in using a word that has the same spelling or sound, but a different meaning, in different parts of an argument.
equivocation
is syntactical ambiguity. it consists in using a phrase whose individual words are univocal but whose meaning is ambiguous because the grammatical construction can be interpreted in various ways
amphiboly
consists in taking words or phrases as a unit when they should be taken separately.
composition
is the converse of the fallacy of composition and consists in taking separately what should be taken together as a unit.
division
consist in the ambiguous use of a word that has different meanings when it is accented differently
accent
is a special type of false analogy that consists in wrongly inferring similarity of meaning from similarity if word structure.
figures of speech
consists in affirming or denying of a thing what has been affirmed or denied only of some accidental modification or condition of the thing, or vise vice versa
accident
consist in using a principle that is restricted in its applicability as though it were an absolutely universal principle, and thus applying it to cases for which it was not intended.
consists in assuming that an absolute statement is implied in a qualified, or limited, statement when it is actually not implied therein.
confusion of absolute and qualified statement
consist in providing a conclusion other than the one that should be proved
ignoratio elenchi
ignores the issue and attacks the person of an opponent instead. It includes such things as personal abuse, attack on man’s character or nationality or religion, “mud slinging,” “name calling,” charges of inconsistency, retorting an argument and so on.
Argumentum ad Hominem
is an appeal to popular prejudices rather than to reason. Every election year supplies altogether too many examples of this fallacy.
Argumentum ad Populum (appeal to the people)
ignores the point at issue and appeals, instead, to our instinct to have compassion on the unfortunate.
Argumentum ad Misericordiam (appeal to pity)
is an appeal to misplaced authority. It aims at overawing people by appealing to the misplaced authority or to the dignity of those who hold an opinion rather than to their special competence in matter under discussion. 5.) Argumentum ad Baculum (appeal to the stick) – is an appeal to physical force or moral pressure.
Argumentum ad Verecundiam
is an appeal to physical force or moral pressure.
Argumentum ad Baculum (appeal to the stick)
consist in assuming under some form or other the conclusion that should be proved and using it as a premise to prove the very same conclusion.
begging the question
consist in drawing an absurd conclusion from an assumption that is falsely imputed to an opponent or wrongly assumed to underlie a thesis.
false cause
consist in inferring that an antecedent is true because its consequent is true, or that a consequent is false because its antecedent is false.
consequent
consists in asking either a multiple question as though it were a single question- or a question involving a supposition as though it involving no supposition - and then demanding a simple yes or no for an answer and thus tricking someone into making admissions he did not intent to make.
many questions
is the Latin for “it does not follow.” in a sense every invalid argument is a sequitur, just as every invalid argument is also an ignoratio elechi; but the name “non sequitur” is generally restricted to a series of true but unrelated propositions that simulate the structure of a syllogism
non sequitur
infers that a statement is false because it cannot be proved , or true because it cannot be refuted. The assumption that a man is guilty until he proves himself not guilty is an example of this fallacy.
The Argumentum Ad Ignorantiam , or Appeal to Ignorance
consists in selection only the fact that favor an opinion and suppressing, or ignoring, all fact that are against it.
fallacy of suppressing the fact
infers that an alleged fact did not take place because it is not recorded in writings in which it would surely have been recorded if it had taken place. This argument can be legitimate, but is often misused. To know for certain that, if an event had taken place, it would have been recorded is often difficult and frequently impossible
the argument from silence
consists in using a false principle or false statement of fact as an unexpressed premise (or at least as a presupposition) of an argument.
the fallacy of false assumption
consists in masking a generalization on insufficient evident.
fallacies of illicit generalization
