Fallacies Flashcards
Define Fallacy.
Logical errors in Arguements
What are the 3 categories of Fallacies?
- Fallacies of Revelence
- Fallacies of Ambiguity
- Fallacies of Presumption
Fallacies of Revelence
when irrelevant conclusions are drawn from the premises of an arguement
Fallacies of Ambiguity
when an argument is unclear / confusing
-misuses of language
Fallacies of Presumption
when false assumptions are made about the premises of an argument
Attack on the Person
Ad hominem
Counters argument is judged based on the person
Fallacy of Relevence
Appeal to popularity
Ad populum
Using most people’s belief / popular opinions in saying the argument is true
Fallacy of Relevence
Appeal to Authority
Ad Vercundiam
Based on the idea that an expert / someone in authority knows something
Fallacy of Relevence
Appeal to Novelty
Ad Novitatem
Believing New is Better
Fallacy of Relevence
Appeal to Traditional Wisdom
Ad Antiquitatem
Believing that the way things are done are what should be done and are the best way
Fallacy of Relevence
Appeal to Nature
Believing that something is good because it’s natural
Fallacy of Relevence
Wishful Thinking
Just because you want something to be true, doesn’t make it so
Fallacy of Relevence
Appeal to Force
Ad Bacculum
Forces agreement is necessary to avoid a bad outcome
Fallacy of Relevence
Appeals to Emotion
Appeals to Emotion, rather than reason
Examples:
- Scare Tactic
- Pity
- Patriotism
- RIdicule
- Spite
Fallacy of Relevence
Red Herring
Distracting the audience from the real argument
-introduces evidence that has nothing to do with the argument
Fallacy of Relevence
Straw Man Argument
Based from Misinterpretation of an opponent’s argument to make it easier to refute
Fallacy of Relevence
Amphiboly
Errors in grammer
Fallacy of Ambiguity
Equivocation
2 possible meaning of the same word
Fallacy of Ambiguity
Affirming the Consequent
P –> Q
Q
P
Fallacy of Presumption
Appeal to Ignorance
Ad Ignorantiam
Lack of evidence/proof
“ absense of evidence is not evidence of absense”
Fallacy of Presumption
Circular Arguements
Using the conclusion to prove the conclusion
Fallacy of Presumption
Hasty Generalization
Steriotyping
-inductive reasoning
Fallacy of Presumption
False Cause
makes connections between bits of evidence where connections are not really present
mistakes coincidences as being casually connected
Fallacy of Presumption
Slippery Slope
an exaggerated connection between 2 events
-in a cause and effect relationship
Fallacy of Presumption