Lesson 12: Informal Fallacies

Question 1

A correct argument should consist of premises that are related to the conclusion in such a way that the assumed ________ of the premises provides good grounds for assenting to the conclusion

Answer 1

truth

Question 2

A ________ is an argument that appears to be correct, but incorrect upon closer inspection

Answer 2

fallacy

Question 3

Fallacy is derived from the Latin term fallere which means “_____________”

Answer 3

to deceive

Question 4

_______ fallacies are categorized into two types: fallacies of relevance and fallacies of weak induction

Answer 4

Informal

Question 5

_____________ are arguments whose premises are not relevant to the conclusion

Answer 5

Fallacies of relevance

Question 6

Argumentum _____________ is a fallacy of relevance in which the instrument of persuasion is the appeal to force or threat to a person’s security

Answer 6

ad baculum

Question 7

Argumentum _____________ is a fallacy of relevance in which the instrument of persuasion is appeal to pity to support a statement

Answer 7

ad misericordiam

Question 8

Argumentum _____________ is a fallacy of relevance in which the instrument of persuasion is emotion-laden terminology emphasizing the “Majority is always right”

Answer 8

ad populum

Question 9

Argumentum ad populum is also known as the ______________ fallacy

Answer 9

mob appeal

Question 10

Argumentum ad populum is a fallacy that upholds the need for ___________

Answer 10

belonging

Question 11

Argumentum _____________ is a fallacy of relevance in which the instrument of persuasion is discrediting the person

Answer 11

ad hominem

Question 12

The _____________ type of argumentum ad hominem involves attacking the character of the person or pointing facts that elicit negative reactions toward him

Answer 12

abusive

Question 13

The abusive type of argumentum ad hominem is also known as __________ the well

Answer 13

poisoning

Question 14

The ________ type of argumentum ad hominem involves discrediting the person because the circumstances of that person’s life are such that he or she could be expected to hold exactly those views

Answer 14

circumstantial

Question 15

The __________________ type of argumentum ad hominem involves the attempt to defend oneself against some accusation by making a countercharge at the accuser

Answer 15

tu quoque

Question 16

___________________ is a fallacy of relevance which involves distortion or exaggeration of another person s argument as if that is really the claim the other person is making.

Answer 16

Straw man

Question 17

Fallacies of ________________________ are arguments whose premises do not make their conclusions very probable but that are nevertheless often successful in convincing people of their conclusions.

Answer 17

weak induction

Question 18

Argumentum ad verecundiam is a fallacy of weak induction in which an appeal is made to who do not have the proper _______________ or legitimate claim to the matter at hand.

Answer 18

authority

Question 19

Argumentum _________________________ is a fallacy of weak induction in which a given statement is accepted as true simply because it cannot be proven false and vice-versa.

Answer 19

ad ignorantiam

Question 20

___________________ is a fallacy of weak induction in which an event is mistaken to cause a given effect (i.e., no established causal relationship).

Answer 20

Post hoc

Question 21

Post Hoc is also known as __________________ .

Answer 21

False cause

Question 22

_________________________ is a fallacy of weak induction that involves leaving a possibly false key premise and creating the illusion that nothing else is needed to establish the conclusion.

Answer 22

Petitio principii

Question 23

Petitio Principii is also known as __________________ .

Answer 23

begging the question

Question 24

________________________ is a fallacy of weak induction that is committed when two or more questions are asked in the guise of a single question and a single answer is then given to both of them.

Answer 24

Complex question

Question 25

_______________________________is a fallacy of weak induction that occurs in an argument based on a generalization when a rule that applies only to an exceptional case is wrongly applied to all cases in general.

Answer 25

Hasty generalization

Question 26

Hasty generalization is also known as _____________________________ .

Answer 26

Converse accident