Obstacles in Reasoning

Question 1

Excessive Vagueness

Answer 1

Unclear and Imprecise

Question 2

Ambiguity

Answer 2

More than one meaning (equivocation)

Question 3

Semantic Ambiguity

Answer 3

Claim containing ambiguous word or phrases

Question 4

Grouping Ambiguity

Answer 4

Unclear whether word/phrase is referring to group collectively or members of a group individually

Question 5

Syntactic Ambiguity

Answer 5

Claim is open to interpretation because of its structure

Question 6

Ambiguous Pronoun References

Answer 6

Unclear to what or whom a pronoun is referring to

Question 7

Excessive Generality

Answer 7

Lack of specificity

Question 8

Undefined Terms

Answer 8

Unestablished meaning of words

Question 9

Purpose of Definition: Lexical

Answer 9

Dictionary definition

Question 10

Purpose of Definition: Precising/Stipulative

Answer 10

Makes term more precise or stipulate new meaning

Question 11

Purpose of Definition: Persuasive/Rhetorical

Answer 11

Use definition to persuade or slant someone towards a certain point of view

Question 12

Kinds of Definition: By Example/Ostensive

Answer 12

Identifying examples to which the term applies

Question 13

Kinds of Definition: By Synonym

Answer 13

Giving word or phrase with same meaning as term

Question 14

Kind of Definition: Analytical

Answer 14

Specifying features needed to be possessed to apply to term