Informal Fallacies Flashcards
When an arguer poses a conclusion to a disputant and says or implies that some harm will come to her if she does not accept the conclusion
Example: My restaurant deserves a AAA health rating. Vito Corleone thinks my restaurant is the cleanest he’s ever been in.
Appeal to Force
When an arguer attempts to support a conclusion by merely evoking pity from the reader or listener
Example: Jones’ family would suffer if s/he were put to death. Hence, Jones does not meet the legal criterion for being subjected to the death penalty
Appeal to Pity
When an arguer, addressing a large group of people, excites the emotions and enthusiasm of the crowd to win acceptance for her conclusion
Appeal to the People (direct)
When the arguer aims his appeal at one or more individuals separately focusing on some aspect of their relation to the crowd
Example: Most Canadians now believe marijuana is harmless. Therefore, marijuana is harmless
Appeal to the People (indirect)
When one person advances an argument and another responds by directing her attention not to the argument but to the person herself
when the 2nd person verbally abuses the 1st
Example: Trudeau says we should have gun control. But he’s dishonest, hence Gun control is not permissible
Argument Against the Person (abusive)
when one person advances an argument and another responds by directing her attention not to the argument by to the person herself
when the 2nd person hopes to show the 1st was predisposed to argue the way he does and should therefore not be taken seriously
Example: Mulcair supports mandatory union membership. But Mulcair has an interest in courting the union vote. Hence, mandatory union membership is wrong.
Argument Against the Person (circumstantial)
when one person advances an argument and another responds by directing her attention not to the argument by to the person herself
when the 2nd arguer attempts to make the 1st person appear to be hypocritical or arguing in bad faith
Example: Dr. Smith says smoking is dangerous, but Dr. Smith smokes. Hence, smoking is not dangerous
Argument Against the Person (tu quoque)
when a general rule is applied to a specific case it was not intended to cover
Example: Autonomy of action is one of our most important rights. Hence, preventing me from punching you in the nose would be wrong.
Accident
When an arguer distorts an opponent’s argument for the purpose of more easily attacking it
Example: Alward says Nova Scotians should be allowed to teach in Saskatchewan classrooms. Clearly he thinks that Saskatchewan students need to learn about cod fishing from people with funny accents. But that is the last thing Saskatchewan students need to learn.
Strawman
when the premises of an argument support one conclusion but a different – often vaguely related – conclusion is drawn
Example: Theft and robbery have been increasing at an alarming rate. Hence, we should reinstate the death penalty
Missing the Point
When the arguer diverts the attention of the listener by changing the subject to a different but subtly related one
Example: The statistics showing seatbelts make you safer are flawed. After all, forcing people to use seatbelts is an infringement of liberty. It’s the first step to authoritarian government.
Red Herring
When the premises of an state that nothing has been proved one way or the other about something and the conclusion then makes a definite conclusion about that thing
Example: It cannot be proven that there are no ghosts - Ghosts exist (conclusion)
Appeal to Ignorance
When the sample used to draw a conclusion about all members of a group is not representative of the group
Example: All of the guests at Graceland Hotel in Memphis think Elvis is still alive - Most Americans think Elvis is still alive (conclusion)
Hasty Generalization
When the conclusion of an argument rest upon an alleged chain reaction when there is not sufficient reason to think the chain reaction will occur
Example: Legalizing assisted suicide will lead to a lessened respect for life
• This will lead to acceptance of killing people more generally
▪ This will lead to acceptance of policies whereby the government systematically eliminates people with undesirable traits
• This will lead to an oppressive authoritarian state
• Assisted suicide should not be legalized.
Slippery Slope
When a single question which is really two (or more) questions is asked and a single answer is then applied to both questions
Example: Have you stopped drinking beer for breakfast yet?
Complex Question
