Flaws Flashcards
What is ad hominem?
Dismissing someone’s argument because of some characteristic of the arguer.
What is ‘correlation equals cause’ confusion?
Assumption that if two factors are found to correlate, one has caused the other.
What is a circular argument (also known as begging the question)?
Argument is based on a reason, but on careful examination the reason rests on evidence that can only be believed if the conclusion is accepted.
What is conflation?
The error of treating two concepts as if they were exactly the same.
What is a hasty generalisation?
Drawing general conclusions from insufficient evidence.
What is a sweeping generalisation?
Form of stereotyping - generalisation that moves from one/many to all creating a stereotype. It may also move back to an individual again.
What is an unwarranted generalisation?
An unwarranted universal claim.
What is necessary and sufficient conditions confused?
Confusing the necessary condition, one that is needed in order for something to happen, with the sufficient condition, one that guarantees that the next step must follow.
What is post hoc?
Belief that a phenomenon is caused by something preceding it, based on no other evidence other than the order of events.
What is predictions about the future without sufficient evidence?
Projecting trends into the future assuming that nothing will occur to change the patterns, resulting in an alarming prospect.
What is false dichotomy ( also know as restricting the options) ?
Limiting the number of possibilities as if they were the only ones, persuading listeners to choose the least attractive option when there could be unmentioned ones that they might prefer.
What is a slippery slope?
Warning about a disasters to which a particular trend or course of action could lead. Uses a step by step prediction describing how things go from bad to worse.
What is straw man?
Arguer identifying a minor weakness in the opposing argument or in a scheme or policy.
What is tu quoque?
Involves deflecting what might be sound criticism by accusing the critic of being guilty of the same or a similar fault.
What is cause and effect confusion?
When both concepts could equally be the cause or the effect.
