Fallacies

Question 0

2 types of most common FORMAL fallacy

Answer 0

Affirming the consequent
= P->Q
Q
- P

Denying the antecedent
= P->Q
~P
- ~Q

Question 1

What are the 2 types of fallacies

Answer 1

1) invalid arguments = LOGICAL/FORMAL FALLACIES
- premises don’t support conc.

2) valid but unsound
- premises are false

Question 2

Non-Formal fallacies:

False Dilemma

Answer 2

2 alternatives are presented as exhaustive, when other possibilities exist

Question 3

Non-Formal fallacies:

Slippery slope

Answer 3

A small concession is presented as having potentially catastrophic consequences

Question 4

Non-Formal fallacies:

Question-begging arguments

Answer 4

Premises rephrase conc

Question 5

Non-Formal fallacies:

Circular arguments

Answer 5

Premises support and are supported by conc

Question 6

Non-Formal fallacies:

Equivocal arguments

Answer 6

Same word is used in 2 or more different senses

Question 7

Non-Formal fallacies:

Misplacing burden of proof

Answer 7

Something is assumed which needs to be proved

Question 8

Appeal to common practice

Answer 8

When a speaker appeals to the fact that a view is universally held in support of it
Can still be false (spot easier if reconstructed)

Eg.
How can you be in favour of slavery? All progressive minded people think that it is wrong.

Every progressive minded person believes slavery is wrong is true
Every belief that progressive minded people hold true is true (FALSE)
Therefore, ‘slavery is wrong’ is true

Question 9

The appeal to authority

Answer 9

When speaker appeals to an authority in support of a position

Eg.
Contraception is sinful
The pope has made his views on the subject quite clear
The pope has stated that ‘contraception is sinful’ is true
Everything the pope States is true is true
Therefore ‘contraception is sinful’ is true

Question 10

Ad hominem

Answer 10

When you attack your opponents character rather than their views

Question 11

Tu Quoque

Answer 11

Special type of Ad Hominem argument

Attempt to discredit opponents views by pointing out they don’t always act on them
But fact that person is inconsistent doesn’t mean that what they’re saying is false

Question 12

Crime by association

Answer 12

Fallacy of assuming that because some beliefs of an individual/group are false, all their beliefs must be false

Question 13

The straw man

Answer 13

Where you level your arguments against a crude caricature of your opponents views
– you set up a ‘straw man’ which you knock down