Fallacies Flashcards
What is a fallacy?
A fallacy is a bad argument which may nonetheless psychologically persuade us of the conclusion
Formal fallacies
The premises taken together do not validly or inductively support the conclusion. In other words, the argument is invalid or inductively weak.
Substantive (material) fallacies
At least one premise, usually suppressed, is unjustified and very general.
Do false premises make an argument a fallacy?
No
Do true premises and a true conclusion guarantee an argument is not a fallacy?
No
Affirming the consequent
Similar to Modus Ponens, if p, then q, q, so, p
Denying the antecedent
Similar to Modus Tollens, if p, then q, not q, so not p
Equivocation
Shift in term meaning, slight different definition between premises/conclusions
Appeals to authority
Suggesting something is true based on the source it comes from, premise can be true regardless of who said it, doesn’t matter how high the authority- only if the premise can be verified
False Dilemma
Leaping to a conclusion without considering alternatives
False equivilance
Irrelevant analogies and a false equivalence, implied that two things are the same when they are not
Slippery slope
Initial step will lead to a bad path, assume connections with a lack of evidence, and no good reason to assume the conditionals are true, just vaguely possible
Begging the question
Evading the question by assuming the conclusion as a premise, asserting the conclusion in different terms without evidence
Straw man
Instead of criticising the opponent’s actual position, the arguer attacks an exaggerated, simplified, misrepresented or distorted version of that position: a straw target.
Tu quoque
Usually a response to a criticism of a position by pointing out that the critic’s position is vulnerable to the same criticism. Calling them a hypocrite. But just because the critic’s position is also vulnerable, it does not mean the defender’s position is invulnerable
