Informal Logic Section B Flashcards
Give an example of the fallacy of division
He is big, so his cells are big
Are stipulative definitions ever false? Are lexical definitions ever false?
stipulative definitions are never false, because they bring a new fact into being–the definition of a new term
lexical definitions can be false, since they purport to capture how a group of people use a term. If they don’t use the term that way, it is false.
what’s the problem with the following inference: why should mary worry about man-eating sharks? She’s a woman!
its an equivocation on man. The statement is that man = human, the second is that man = male. the problem is that mary is a human so sharks are dangerous to her.
explain “nothing is ever truly just if it is not fair”
this is a theoretical/essential defintion - the speaker is trying to capture the essence or nature of justice, not how people might use the word
explain “it is socially costly to challenge arguments from pity”
arguments from pity might be like: “don’t give her a bad grade she is an orphan and has a tough life” - arguing against this can spark backlash since it is appealing to emotion and someone may accuse you of not caring for others
explain why acceptability to audience is a requirement for premises
arguments must be manifestly acceptable - this requires that your audience can see that the argument satisfies the material and logical requirements for good arguments. We are trying to rationally solve a disagreement, so the reasons must be ones that someone can be moved by.
