Fallacies Of Ambuiguity Flashcards
What is a fallacy of ambiguity?
A fallacy of ambiguity occurs when a statement is unclear or has multiple meanings, leading to misleading or invalid arguments.
True or False: All fallacies of ambiguity involve linguistic confusion.
True
Fill in the blank: A ________ is a fallacy that arises from the use of a word with multiple meanings in an argument.
ambiguity
What are the three main types of fallacies of ambiguity?
Equivocation, amphiboly, and accent.
Which fallacy involves using a word in different senses within the same argument?
Equivocation.
True or False: Amphiboly is a fallacy that arises from ambiguous grammatical structure.
True
What does the accent fallacy involve?
The accent fallacy involves ambiguity that arises from the emphasis placed on certain words or phrases.
Multiple Choice: Which of the following is an example of equivocation? A) ‘A feather is light. What is light cannot be dark.’ B) ‘The bank was closed.’ C) ‘All trees have bark. All dogs bark. Therefore, all trees are dogs.’
C
True or False: Equivocation can lead to a valid conclusion if the meanings are not clarified.
False
Fill in the blank: In the fallacy of amphiboly, the ambiguity arises from ________ structure.
grammatical
What is an example of the accent fallacy?
Saying ‘I didn’t steal your money’ can have different meanings depending on which word is emphasized.
Multiple Choice: Which of the following is NOT a fallacy of ambiguity? A) Equivocation B) Straw Man C) Amphiboly
B
True or False: All fallacies of ambiguity are logical fallacies.
True
What is the primary purpose of identifying fallacies of ambiguity in arguments?
To clarify meaning and ensure logical consistency.
Fill in the blank: A statement can be ambiguous due to ________ or ________.
word choice, grammatical structure
What is a common consequence of using ambiguous language in arguments?
It can lead to misunderstandings and misinterpretations.
Multiple Choice: Which of the following statements contains an ambiguity? A) ‘She is fast.’ B) ‘He saw her duck.’ C) ‘The cat sat on the mat.’
B
True or False: Clarifying ambiguous terms can help in resolving fallacies of ambiguity.
True
What is the role of context in determining ambiguity?
Context helps clarify the intended meaning of ambiguous statements.
Fill in the blank: An argument that relies on ambiguous terms is often considered ________.
weak
What should a critical thinker do when encountering a fallacy of ambiguity?
Seek clarification and define terms explicitly.
Multiple Choice: Which fallacy is characterized by a misleading or faulty interpretation of a statement due to its structure? A) Equivocation B) Amphiboly C) Red Herring
B
True or False: Ambiguity can sometimes be intentional in persuasive language.
True
What is the impact of fallacies of ambiguity on effective communication?
They hinder understanding and can lead to conflict or confusion.
