Fallicies 1-12 Flashcards
What is Post hoc Fallacy?
The belief a causal relationship is present due to one event coming before the other
- confuses with simple coincidence
- example of insufficient evidence
What is Appeal to Tradition?
Believing that something is right or true bc it is part of a tradition that is respected
- no other reason to why a practice is continued
- example of irrelevance
What is Appeal to Popular Opinion?
Majority of population believe it so it must be true
- popularity of belief does not say anything about its truth or falsity
What is Faulty Analogy?
Assuming that bc 2 things are alike in one (usually trivial) respect, they must also be alike in some other more important respect
- only act as suggestive and doesn’t serve as evidence for two things to apply to more important aspects
- example of unacceptable premise
What is Abusive ad hominem?
Attacking a person in an abusive way (abusive labels) as a means of discrediting their argument or distracting attention from it
- redirects attention to traits of speaker in hopes for original issue to be forgotten and cast doubt
- take advantage of subconscious tendency to assume ‘bad things’ = no good properties —> shields against evidence
- example of irrelevant premises
What is Arguing from Ignorance?
You can’t prove me wrong, so I’m right
- arguing for the truth (or falsity) of a claim due to no evidence
- burden of proof lies with those making a claim
What are False Alternatives?
Promoting your (usually weak) point of view by presenting it to w/ an even weaker viewpoint, when in reality there are other, better possibilities that have not been mentioned
- oversimplification to make their view appear to be the best one
- going against this claim makes you appear to be making a mistake
What is Wishful Thinking?
Assuming that because one wants something to be true, it is true (or the converse)
- our desires have no influence on reality —> hope
- example of unacceptable premise
- illusion of efficacy —> desire blinds us from evidence
What is Straw Man Fallacy?
Misrepresenting an opponent’s position or argument in order to make it sound weak or foolish, easier to attack
- oversimplifying and exaggerating argument that violates rebuttal, relevance, acceptability
What is an Appeal to Irrelevant Authority?
Attempting to support a claim by appealing to the judgement of; 1. Someone who doesn’t have appropriate expertise, 2. An unidentified authority, 3. Authority likely to be biased
- attempt to persuade through transfer of authority from a field of actual competence to one in which the authority is not competent
- ex. Sports player promoting health drugs
What is the Fallacy of the Mean?
Assuming that a moderate or middle view between two extremes must be the best or right one, simply because it is the middle view
- not compromise but ignoring that one extreme may be completely wrong
What is the Two-wrongs fallacy?
You can’t criticize me bc others have does the same (improper) thing
- emotionally convincing justification for our improper actions if someone else did the same thing
