Lesson 34: Fallacies of Ambiguity

Question 1

What is a fallacy of ambiguity?

Answer 1

Fallacies of ambiguity are arguments that confuse the real issue with multiple, vague, or otherwise unclear meanings.

Question 2

What are the five fallacies of ambiguity?

Answer 2

1. Equivocation
2. Accent
3. Amphiboly
4. Composition
5. Division

Question 3

What is the fallacy of Equivocation?

Answer 3

Equivocation is changing the definition of a term in the middle of an argument.
Ex:
The only rational being is man.
Women are not men.
This explains why women are so irrational.

Question 4

What is the fallacy of Accent?

Answer 4

The fallacy of accent alters the meaning of a statement through changed emphasis.
Ex:
WE should not steal our neighbor’s car. (But it is fine if someone else does.)
We SHOULD not steal our neighbor’s car. (But we will anyway.)
We should not STEAL our neighbor’s car. (But it’s okay if we vandalize it.)
We should not steal our NEIGHBOR’S car. (But the folks across town are fair game.)
We should not steal our neighbor’s CAR. (Right, it’s the lawn mower we’re after.)

Question 5

What is the fallacy of Amphiboly?

Answer 5

Amphiboly is a vagueness of grammar that disguises or alters meaning.
Ex:
Tuna Biting Off Washington Coast

Question 6

What is the fallacy of Composition?

Answer 6

Composition is the fallacy of transferring attributes from parts to whole.
Ex:
Each part of the 747 Airplane is designed to be lightweight. So a 747 must not weigh very much.

Question 7

What is the fallacy of Division?

Answer 7

Division is the fallacy of transferring attributes from whole to part.
Ex:
The Lakers are a great basketball team, so each member of the team must be a great basketball player.