Fallacies

Question 1

Define Fallacy.

Answer 1

Logical errors in Arguements

Question 2

What are the 3 categories of Fallacies?

Answer 2

1. Fallacies of Revelence
2. Fallacies of Ambiguity
3. Fallacies of Presumption

Question 3

Fallacies of Revelence

Answer 3

when irrelevant conclusions are drawn from the premises of an arguement

Question 4

Fallacies of Ambiguity

Answer 4

when an argument is unclear / confusing

-misuses of language

Question 5

Fallacies of Presumption

Answer 5

when false assumptions are made about the premises of an argument

Question 6

Attack on the Person

Ad hominem

Answer 6

Counters argument is judged based on the person

Fallacy of Relevence

Question 7

Appeal to popularity

Ad populum

Answer 7

Using most people’s belief / popular opinions in saying the argument is true

Fallacy of Relevence

Question 8

Appeal to Authority

Ad Vercundiam

Answer 8

Based on the idea that an expert / someone in authority knows something

Fallacy of Relevence

Question 9

Appeal to Novelty

Ad Novitatem

Answer 9

Believing New is Better

Fallacy of Relevence

Question 10

Appeal to Traditional Wisdom

Ad Antiquitatem

Answer 10

Believing that the way things are done are what should be done and are the best way

Fallacy of Relevence

Question 11

Appeal to Nature

Answer 11

Believing that something is good because it’s natural

Fallacy of Relevence

Question 12

Wishful Thinking

Answer 12

Just because you want something to be true, doesn’t make it so

Fallacy of Relevence

Question 13

Appeal to Force

Ad Bacculum

Answer 13

Forces agreement is necessary to avoid a bad outcome

Fallacy of Relevence

Question 14

Appeals to Emotion

Answer 14

Appeals to Emotion, rather than reason

Examples:

• Scare Tactic
• Pity
• Patriotism
• RIdicule
• Spite

Fallacy of Relevence

Question 15

Red Herring

Answer 15

Distracting the audience from the real argument

-introduces evidence that has nothing to do with the argument

Fallacy of Relevence

Question 16

Straw Man Argument

Answer 16

Based from Misinterpretation of an opponent’s argument to make it easier to refute

Fallacy of Relevence

Question 17

Amphiboly

Answer 17

Errors in grammer

Fallacy of Ambiguity

Question 18

Equivocation

Answer 18

2 possible meaning of the same word

Fallacy of Ambiguity

Question 19

Affirming the Consequent

Answer 19

P –> Q
Q
P

Fallacy of Presumption

Question 20

Appeal to Ignorance

Ad Ignorantiam

Answer 20

Lack of evidence/proof
“ absense of evidence is not evidence of absense”

Fallacy of Presumption

Question 21

Circular Arguements

Answer 21

Using the conclusion to prove the conclusion

Fallacy of Presumption

Question 22

Hasty Generalization

Answer 22

Steriotyping
-inductive reasoning

Fallacy of Presumption

Question 23

False Cause

Answer 23

makes connections between bits of evidence where connections are not really present

mistakes coincidences as being casually connected

Fallacy of Presumption

Question 24

Slippery Slope

Answer 24

an exaggerated connection between 2 events
-in a cause and effect relationship

Fallacy of Presumption

Question 25

False Dilemma

Answer 25

demanding someone pick from a narrow / limited amount of choices

Fallacy of Presumption

Question 26

Loaded Question

Answer 26

Poses a question that by affirming / denying it implies agreeing to something
“lose, lose / win win situation”
-forces a yes or no answer

Fallacy of Presumption

Question 27

Gambler’s Fallacy

Answer 27

statistical error that if something happens at a higher frequency, it will happen less in the future (and vice versa)

Fallacy of Presumption

Question 28

Confirmation Bias

Answer 28

The tendency to search for a predetermined answer
“Search”

Bias

Question 29

Group Polarization

Answer 29

The tendency for an idea to intensify when in a group situation who have that same idea.