Final Review Flashcards
Misrepresenting an opponent’s position and proceeding to refute the misrepresentation rather than what the opponent actually claims.
the strawman fallacy
Asserting that because something should morally) be a particular way, it is that particular way.
moralistic fallacy
Persuading people to accept a position by generating sympathy for those who hold the position.
appeal to pity
Attributing a concrete characteristic to something abstract.
reification
Directing an argument against the person making the claim rather than the claim itself.
ad hominem
Pertaining to the belief or conviction that there is one and only one God.
monotheistic
Comforming to the mind of God
true
Attempting to refute an argument by pointing out that the person making the argument is not behaving consistently with the conclusion of the argument.
the quoque fallacy
A written or spoken symbol that represents something else.
linguistic token
Drawing a generalization from too few specific examples.
hasty generalization
In accordance with our feelings or expectations
intuitive
An informal argument is cogent if the conclusion is likely to be true.
cogent
A guess; an inference formed without proof or with insufficient evidence.
conjecture
The object or idea to which a word points or symbolizes.
referent
The study of the principles of correct reasoning which does not focus on the structure of an argument.
informal logic
Shifting from one meaning of a word to another within an argument
equivocation
To be ___ is to reason incorrectly. But god, by His nature always reasons correctly.
illogical
Arguing that a person’s argument is wrong by attacking the character of the person.
abusive ad hominem
Falsely assuming that what is true of the parts/individuals must also be true of the whole/group
fallacy of composition
Pertaining to the amount, degree, or number of something.
quantitatively
The error of criticizing or dismissing an argument due to its source.
genetic fallacy
Arbitrarily assuming what one is attempting to prove as part of the proof.
Begging the question
Using biased (often emotional) language to persuade people rather than using logic.
question - begging epithet
To go beyond
transcend
A category of logical fallacy in which the conclusion of argument is not strongly relevant to the premises.
fallacy of relevance
not changing over time
invariant
The error of drawing erroneous inferences from an analogy that is not similar in relevant ways to the topic under discussion.
false analogy
A category of logical fallacy in which the argument has assumed something that is unproved or doubtful.
fallacy of presumption
Inclined or prejudiced to a particular position
biased
The quality of being unclear in meaning; the capacity to be understood in two or more ways
ambiguilty
A common error in reasoning.
fallacy
The principles of correct reasoning dealing with truth values and using words such as “If-then, and, or, not.”
propositional logic
God always thinks correctly, and the Bible commands us to think like Him (Isaiah 55:7-8) and emulate His ___. (Ephesians 5:1)
character
An argument that is valid and also has true premises; always has a tru conclusion
sound
The tendency to induce belief or behavior in a person. An argument is one in which most people will accept the conclusion as true
persuasive
Falsely assuming that what is true of the whole/group must also be true of the parts/individuals
fallacy of division
The disclosure of information from God to man contained in the Bible.
special revelation
A series of propositions where the truth of one is said to follow from the others
argument
Able to exist or exert power at all locations in space at the same time.
omni-present
Applying a generalization to an exception.
sweeping generalization
An argument with an unstated premise or an unstated conclusion
enthymeme
An argument that has some degree of unavoidable circularity due to the essential nature of the claim, and yet is self-consistent and non-arbitrary.
virtuous circle
The use of “all” that means “each and every one” taken separately - in contrast to collective
distributive
The use of “all” that means “all together” or taken as a whole - in contrast to distributive
collective
Those things that are required in advance; that which is necessary to a particular end.
prerequisites
“With this, therefore because of this.” The (false cause) fallacy of assuming that event A caused event B solely on the bases that the two events occur together.
Cum Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc
The art or skill of speaking or writing effectively and persuasively (regardless of considerations of logic or truth).
rhetoric
A categorical argument containing two premises and one conclusion that uses words like “all, some, no, not.”
syllogism
___ is having confidence (or proof, or good reasons) for what you have not experienced with your senses. It is a confident expectation in that which is unseen (Hebrews 11:1).
Faith
Something that is based on speculation or conjecture for the sake of discussion or argument.
hypothetical
Arguing that since something is a particular way, it is morally acceptable for it to be that way.
Naturalistic fallacy
arguing that a given action will set off a chain reaction leading to a particular result, when in reality other factors are likely to prevent that result.
slippery slope fallacy
Opinions formed from evidence; what people reason to be true or likely true from evidence or reason.
inferences
Proving a point, but not the point at issue.
fallacy of irrelevant thesis
A good argument has true ___, and the conclusion follows from them.
premises
To provide reasons for proposition.
justify
An argument in which the conclusion is likely to be true if the premises are.
inductive argument
Disobedience to God
sin
Applicable everywhere.
universal
Having confidence in something not perceived with the senses.
faith
The proposition in an argument that the person is attempting to prove
conclusion
The error of attributing a cause-and-effect relationship between two events that do not actually have such a relationship
false cause fallacy
Something that appears clear to the eye or mind, though it may not be.
apparant
A positive mental attitude toward a proposition; something a person accepts as true
belief
universal, invariant, abstract rules of correct reasoning
laws of logic
In accordance with the laws of Logic: logical
rational
the definition of a word found in a dictionary
lexical definition
Dependent on the thoughts or feelings of the individual.
subjective
A way of reasoning that arbitrarily assumes what the person is attempting to prove. They commit the fallacy of begging the question.
vicious circle
Arguing for a position on the basis that negative consequences will follow if a person does not accept the position.
appeal to force/fear
The opposite proposition is formed by adding “it is not the case that” to the original proposition. It always has the opposite truth value of a given proposition.
negation
Arguing that something must be true because it is desirable or that something must be false because it is undesirable.
appeal to consequence
An argument in which the conclusion follows logically from the premises, regardless of whether the premises are true.
valid
true, justified belief
knowledge
Conjecture, guess, or hypothesis, without sufficient supporting evidence.
speculation
A declaration of the meaning of a word or phrase that does not already have an established one.
stipulative definition
Practical; based on what works regardless of theoretical considerations, principles, moral implications, or truth.
pragmatic
At variance or not compatible; two things that do not go well together
inconsistent
Unbelievers too are made in the image of God, and hence have the capacity for ___ reasoning, God has given them knowledge as well.
rational
The principles of correct reasoning dealing with categories and using words such as “all, some, no, not.”
categorical logic
A category of logical fallacy in which the argument has used words or phrases in a way that is confusing or vague.
fallacy of ambiguity
independent of the person; something that is the same for all people
objective
A logical ___ is a common error in reasoning.
fallacy
Fallacy of appealing to the unknown; specifically when a person argues that a claim is probably true simply because it has never been proven false.
appeal to ignorance
Changing the meaning of proposition by placing undue emphasis on a word or phrase
fallacy of accent
Contrary to the mind of God
false
The compound proposition “A or not-A” is always true. Or, “Either A is true or not-A is true.” A proposition always has the opposite truth value of its negation.
Law of the Excluded Middle
Arguing that.a person’s argument is wrong because of the person’s circumstances, biases, or motivations.
circumstantial ad hominem
An informal argument is weak if the conclusion is not likely to be true.
weak
The error of defining a term in a biased way that would not be found in a dictionary in order to protect a claim from evidence to the contrary.
the no true scotsman fallacy
A truth claim, may be true or false
proposition
“After this, therefore because of this.” The (false cause) fallacy of assuming that event. A caused event B solely on the basis that B came after A.
Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc Fallacy
Fallacy of attempting to persuade people by stirring powerful emotions rather than making a logical case.
appeal to emotion
The definition of a word that is consistent with its lexical definition, but which adds further restrictions for the purpose of clarification or scientific precision.
precising definition
Claiming there are only two mutually exclusive possibilities, when there is a third option (or more).
fallacy of bifurcation
A fallacious definition, not found in any dictionary, that is intended to persuade someone.
persuasive definition
The fallacy of dismissing an argument because the conclusion is inconsistent with the behavior of the person making the argument. The tu quoque fallacy.
appeal to hypocrisy
___ is the study of the principles of correct reasoning. It is the way God thinks
Logic
having supreme power or authority and not required to answer to any higher authority
sovereign
“A thing is itself” or “if A then A.”
Law of Identity
A proposition in an argument that is taken as an accepted fact.
premise
A logical ___ is a common error in reasoning.
fallacy
Claiming that a proposition or an argument must be correct because a fallible person believes it. Often the appeal is to an expert but outside of his area of expertise, or to an expert who disagrees with other experts in the same field.
faulty to appeal to authority
Attempting to persuade by asking a loaded question.
complex question
The compound proposition “A and not-A” is always false. Or, “You cannot have A and not-A at the same time and in the same sense.”
Law of Non-contradiction
The negation of a proposition, or the combination of the proposition and its negation. “A and not-A” is a contradiction.
contradiction
Existing in thought as an idea but having no physical or material existence.
abstract
Abstract; existing within the mind such as a thought or idea
conceptual
The error (arbitrarily) using a double standard, especially when the arguer exempts himself from a standard he applies to others.
special pleading
That which shows itself to be wrong. A self-refuting argument is one in which the conclusion is inconsistent with one or more of the premises.
self-refuting
To project or expand beyond known data or experiences based on patterns exhibited in known data or experiences; to infer unknown values or properties based on known values or properties.
extrapolate
The disclosure of information from God to man
revelation (divine)
That which is suggested by evidence or reasoning. That which follows logically from something else
implications
To copy or imitate; to match the characteristics of another.
emulate
The study of the principles of correct reasoning that focuses on the structure (or form) of the argument.
formal logic
Arguing that something must be true because a majority believes it. This is a specific type of the faulty appeal to authority.
appeal to the majority
Pertaining to the belief that there are multiple gods.
polytheistic
Independent of arbitrary standards; being without exception or qualification
absolute
An argument in which the conclusion is certainly true if the premises are.
deductive argument
A stipulative or lexical definition that is associated with a particular scientific theory.
theoretical definition
A philosophy advocating the repression of emotion and indifference to pleasure or pain.
stoicism
to not have a specific reason for a belief or action; not having a reason
arbitrary
The Bible reveals that human beings are made in God’s image, and therefore reflect some of His attributes, including the ability to ___.
reason
Pertaining to the quality, kind, or nature of a thing, regardless of the amount or degree.
qualitatively
