Fallacies, Outline, Argumentative Essay Flashcards
logical fallacies
A logical fallacy is an argument that can be disproven through reasoning. This is different from a subjective argument or one that can be disproven with facts; for a position to be a logical fallacy, it must be logically flawed or deceptive insome way
* These are errors in reasoning that renders an argument invalid
ad hominem
- Argument Latin word meaning “against the man” “to the person”
- This is unfairly attacking a person instead of the issue or attacking the character or reputation of a position’s supporters. It is like becoming guilty by your association.
begging the question
- circular reasoning
- assumes the conclusion they are trying
to prove is true before giving supporting evidence. - argument is true because you think it’s true
false analogy
making a comparison between two subjects that have more dissimilarities than similarities. Uses analogies to argue
for a conclusion instead of providing reasons or evidence.
two wrongs make a right
defending something wrong that we did by citing another incident of wrong doing. a rebuttal that responds to one claim with reactive criticism rather than with a
response to the claim itself. Related to appeal to hypocrisy also whataboutism.
- related to tu quoque - you too
cause and effect fallacy
This is citing a false or remote cause to
explain a situation or relationship between two things where one can’t actually be proven.
oversimplification
is understating or making a very complicated issue seem very simple by using simple terms or suppressing information
hasty generalization
an arguer is giving an inference or a broad
conclusion drawn from scant or insufficient or sometimes biased evidence or data.
- jumping to conclusions
Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Ho
assuming “correlation does imply causation.” because one thing follows another chronologically, there is a causal relationship
rationalization
is giving false justifications for your viewpoint which can occur when the truth is ineffective, embarrassing to tell,
or harsher than the made-up justifications offered.
strawman
the arguer is misrepresenting or distorting their opponent’s position to more easily discredit it and win the argument.
either or fallacy
- false dilemma, false dichotome
- arguers present two things as if they are the only possible choices when in fact, there are several potential outcomes or alternatives. By doing so, this leads the reader into a “false” sense understanding.
red herring
Putting forth a point of view unrelated to your topic in an effort to divert the reader. This is a diversionary strategy that avoids the important issues, frequently by avoiding opposing arguments instead of addressing them.
equivocation
This is a childish linguistic trick or remark intended to deceive or confound readers or listeners by utilizing several meanings or interpretations of a single word or just by using ambiguous language.
evasion
This is when we are ignoring or evading the questions.
