Logical Fallacies Flashcards
What is a logical fallacy?
An argument that contains a mistake in reasoning
An argument that doesn’t support or prove what it is supposed too
What are the 3 types of fallacies?
Relevance
Induction
Formal
Define fallacies of relevance
Occur when an argued offers reasons that are logically irrelevant to his or her conclusion
(Unrelated to truth)
Define red herring
The argued changes the subject and takes the listener down a unrelated path
What are Ad Hominem Fallacies?
Attempts to dismiss an argument by attacking the person who made the argument, rather than attacking the claim itself
Define poisoning the well
Trying to dismiss what someone is going to say, by talking about his/her character or circumstances
What is guilt by association?
An opponents views are dismissed because the opponent is associated with a disreputable group
Define genetic fallacy
When an idea is either accepted or rejected because of its source, rather than its merit
What is the false dilemma fallacy?
Two alternative options are presented as the only possibilities, when in fact more possibilities exist
Define the straw man
Someone attempts to dismiss a contention by distorting or misrepresenting it to make it weaker
What is misplacing the burden of proof?
Arguing that we should believe a claim because nobody has proved it false (or vice versa)
What is begging the question mean?
An arguer includes the conclusion to be proven within a premise of the argument
What are fallacies that appeal to emotion?
Emotions are substituted for evidence
What are two wrongs make a right?
When an allegation of wrongdoing is countered with a similar allegation
Define wishful thinking
When we forgot that wanting something to be true is irrelevant to whether it is true
What are fallacies of induction?
Where premises give us little or no reason to believe the conclusion is more likely to be true than false
Fallacies of induction are types of very weak inductive reasoning
Define inductive generalisation
Reaching a conclusion about a population based on what’s known about a sample of that population
Define fallacy of generalisation
Reaching a conclusion about a population that is based on flawed logic or evidence
What is the fallacy of accident?
Occurs when it is assumed that a general statement applies to a specific case
Define weak analogy
Arguments based on debatable or unimportant similarities between things
Define fallacies appeal to authority
When an authority is presented instead of evidence, but the authority is not an expert on the issue, or may be biased or lying
Define fallacious appeal to popularity
Treating an issue that cannot be settled by public opinion as if it can
Define fallacious appeal to common practice or tradition
Something is right because it’s always been done before
Define Bandwagon Fallacy
People tend to do or believe something because others do or believe it
(To align our beliefs with the beliefs of those around us)
