fallacies of insufficient evidence Flashcards
what is inappropriate appeal to authority
relies on the opinion of someone who is not an expert in the relevant field.
Example: My favorite actor says this diet works, so it must be effective.
what is appeal to ignorance
asserts that a claim is true because it has not been proven false.
Example: No one has proven that aliens don’t exist, so they must be real.
what is false alternatives
present a limited set of options, ignoring other possibilities.
Example: You’re either with us or against us.
what is questionable causes
assumes a relationship between two events when none exists, often implying that one causes the other because they occur together.
Example: I wore my lucky socks, and my team won the game, so the socks must be why we won.
what is hasty generalisation
draws a broad conclusion based on a small or unrepresentative sample.
Example: I met two rude people from that city, so everyone there must be rude.
what is slippery slope
argues that a small step will inevitably lead to a chain of related (usually negative) events.
Example: If we allow students to redo assignments, next they’ll want to retake exams, and soon there will be no standards at all.
what is inconsistency
occurs when someone makes contradictory claims.
Example: You say we should save money, but you just bought an expensive car.
what is weak analogy
compares two things that aren’t really comparable in relevant aspects.
Example: Making students go to school is like herding sheep; it’s unnatural and controlling.
