Formal Fallacies Flashcards
Denying the antecedent
when someone incorrectly claims that if the antecedent is false, the consequent must also be false
Not P.
Therefore, not Q.
If P, then Q
Examples:
If I am in New York, then I am in the United States.
I am not in New York.
Therefore, I am not in the United States.
Denying the consequent
Denying the consequent involves concluding that if a given conditional (or if-then) statement is true, then the antecedent (or “if” clause) must be false whenever the consequent (or “then” clause) is false.
Begging the question
Begging the question fallacy occurs when you assume that an argument is true in order to justify a conclusion. If something begs the question, what you are actually asking is, “Is the premise of that argument actually true?” For example, the statement “Snakes make great pets
Makes you questin if an arugment is actually true
Wool sweaters are superior to nylon jackets as fall attire because wool sweaters have the higher wool content
Vintage furniture is better than new furniture because it’s usually made from real wood
Blueberries are good for you because they’re filled with antioxidants.
The Fallacy Fallacy
The fallacy fallacy (also known as the argument from fallacy) is a logical fallacy that occurs when someone assumes that if an argument contains a fallacy, then its conclusion must be false.
Ad Hominem
When you attack the person instead of attacking their argument.
You make not like the person so even though their argument can be true you ignore the argument and instead go against everything they say because of who they are.
Everything that hitler said was false because of all the evil he brought on the world.
Strawman Fallacy
when you mischaracterize an argument in order to make appear weaker than it actually is
Appeal To Authority
when you appeal to someone position or expertise in order to establish a truth to a claim
You should put ice on a wound because my docter said it helps. My doctor is a therapist.
Johnny is a rockstar and he listens to classical music, therefore classical music is the best.
False Dilemma
When you present only 2 choices as if those 2 choices were the only options
I should be president because the other person is worser.
You are either with us or against us.
Equivocation
When you use the same words but with different meaning
1.Feather are light
2.What is light cannot be dark
3.Therefore feathers cannot be dark
Circular Argument
the evidence used to support a claim is just a repetition of the claim itself
The President of the United States is a good leader (claim), because they are the leader of this country (supporting evidence)
Johhny is a good leader, because he is the leader of the football team.
Hasty Generalization
generalization you have made without insufficient evidence
All pitbulls are aggressive because they’re always on the news biting people, kids, or other small dogs.
Comparative Fallacy
when you make a comparison and try to establish the absoulute claim
I am taller than my girlfriend
But that doesn’t mean I’m tall
I’m 5’6, my gf is 5,2
Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc
after this, therefore because of this.” The phrase expresses the logical fallacy of assuming that one thing caused another merely because the first thing preceded the other
Everytime that rooster caca doodle doos the sun comes up.
I shopped at a luxury store so the company reached its Q1 revenue goal
I let jim bob borrow my car, my car broke down, so jim bob broke my car.
Appeal to Ignorance
the logical fallacy of claiming that a statement must be true because there’s no evidence against it or it hasn’t been proven false
Dragons existed before because nobody has been able to prove that they didn’t exist
Appeal To Nature
the (false) idea that whatever is natural cannot be wrong
Herbal medicine is natural so it is good for you.
Water is healthy, so drinking lake water is good
