Flaw in the Reasoning: Types Quiz Flashcards
an author must use each term in a constant and coherent fashion.
Uncertain use of a Term or Concept
this type attacks the person instead of the argument they advance.
Source Argument
author assumes as true what is supposed to be true.
Circular Reasoning
These questions ask you to describe mistakes in reasoning in logical terms.
Errors of Conditional Reasoning
Arguments that draw causal conclusions are inherently flawed because there may be another explanation for the stated relationship.
Mistaken Cause and Effect
Author attempts to attack an opponents position by ignoring the actual statements made and instead distort and refashion the argument.
Straw Man
Authors misuse information to such a degree that they fail to provide any information to support their conclusion or they provide information that is irrelevant to their conclusion.
General Lack of Relevant Evidence for the Conclusion
This occurs when an author makes conflicting statements.
Internal Contradiction
Appeal to authority
Appeal Fallicy
Appeal to popular opinion/appeal to numbers
Appeal Fallicy
Appeal to emotion
Appeal Fallicy
Survey uses a biased sample
Survey Errors
Survey questions are improperly constructed.
Survey Errors
respondents to the survey give inaccurate responses
Survey Errors
Takes a small number of instances and treats those instances as if they support a broad, sweeping conclusion.
Exceptional Case/Overgeneralization
Occurs when the author attributes a characteristic of part of the group to the group as a whole or to each member of the group
Errors of Composition and Division
composition
Occurs when the author attributes a characteristic of the whole (or each member of the whole) to a part of the group.
Errors of Composition and Division
division
author uses an analogy that is to dissimilar to the original situation to be applicable.
False Analogy
Assumes that only two courses of action are available when there may be others.
false dilema
Lack of evidence for a position is taken to prove that position false.
Errors in the use of evidence
Lack of evidence against a position does not undeniably prove a position.
Errors in the use of evidence
Some evidence against a position is taken to prove that position false.
Errors in the use of evidence
Some evidence for a position is taken to prove that position is true.
Errors in the use of evidence
Mistake involves assuming that conditions will remain constant over time.
Time Shift errors
When an author improperly equates percentages with a definite quantity, or when an author uses quantity information to make a judgement about the percentage represented by that quantity.
numbers and percentages errors
