Flaws Flashcards
Ad hominem
The reasoning attacks the arguer and not the argument
Straw person
An author deliberately misrepresents an opponents position in order to attack it more easily.
Restricting the options
An author presents a number of options that do not cover all possibilities.
False dichotomy
A specific form of restricting the options, where only two options are presented that do not cover all possibilities. Often, one of the options is more favourable than the other (which can be extreme).
Two wrongs don’t make a right
The author tries to defend one wrong action on the basis that a different wrong action was accepted.
Tu quoque
Someone argues that something unacceptable that they’ve done is actually acceptable because others have done it and it was accepted.
Confusing necessary and sufficient conditions
A necessary condition is one that must be fulfilled alongside others for something to happen. A sufficient condition is one that is enough by itself to ensure something will happen.
Hasty generalisation
The author seeks to make a far-reaching or over-generalised claim from very limited evidence that is specific to a particular instance.
Sweeping generalisation
The author argues from one or a number of cases in a category to all cases in a category.
Confusing cause and effect
Where the actual effect is seen as a cause.
False cause
Two causes are deemed to be connected when they are not.
Post hoc
It refers to the assumption that, if an event follows a cause, the event was caused by this cause.
Over simplifying casual relationships
The author gives a simplified explanation, when the situation is actually more complex.
Circular Argument
The conclusion just restates the reasons.
Conflation
The author takes at least two different terms and treats them as if they are the same.
