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Philosophy > Unit 1 - LOGIC AND FALLACIES > Flashcards

Unit 1 - LOGIC AND FALLACIES Flashcards

1
Q

What are fallacies?

A

Flaws and faults that weaken arguments.

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2
Q

What are the two types of fallacies?

A

Formal and informal

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3
Q

What is a formal fallacy?

A

A formal fallacy is one which involves an error in the form, arrangement or technical structure of an argument.

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4
Q

What is the structure of an argument?

A

Premise
Premise
Conclusion

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5
Q

Example of a formally valid argument:

A

P1: All living things breathe
P2: I breathe
C: I am a living thing

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6
Q

Example of formally invalid argument:

A

P1: All monkeys have thumbs
P2: I have thumbs
C: I am a monkey

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7
Q

What is deductive logic?

A

In deductive logic, you draw inferences between information you know for certain and information you need to know.
- If P1 is true then C is true.

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8
Q

What’s the name of a premise-premise conclusion argument?

A

Syllogism

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9
Q

What is an inductive argument?

A

An argument in which the conclusion is probably true, given that that premises are true
- Uses percentages or data

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10
Q

What is an abductive argument?

A

The conclusion is a ‘best guess’ that is judged to be the most plausible explanation among competing alternatives, given that the premises are true.
If it had rained last night, the street would have been wet.
The street is wet
It was raining last night

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11
Q

Attack on the Person

A

Counters an argument by attacking the person.
“What do you know you’re just a kid.”

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12
Q

Attack on the Motive

A

Attacks the credibility of a person.
“He doesn’t like that, he just wants to _______!”

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13
Q

Appeal to ignorance

A

Argues lack of proof arguing against their point. “There isn’t any evidence saying I’m wrong, so I am right.”

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14
Q

Attack to Popularity

A

When you argue a point is being made just because of the general public.

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15
Q

Improper Appeal to Authority

A

Using an individual’s unprofessional opinion in your argument as if professional.

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16
Q

Appeal to Emotion

A

An argument that reaches emotions and feelings.

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17
Q

Appeal to Tradition

A

An argument that uses tradition to back up their point.

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18
Q

Red Herring

A

Bringing up an unrelated issue in an argument

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19
Q

Equivocation

A

A single term with two meanings is used.

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20
Q

Hastey Generalization

A

Making assumptions about a whole group or range of cases based on an inadequate sample.

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21
Q

Straw Man

A

Misrepresentation of the other argument

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22
Q

Slippery Slope

A

A chain reaction of events that are typically improbable.

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23
Q

False Causality

A

Connections being made between points that don’t relate. (Typically superstitions)

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24
Q

Two Wrongs

A

When one point should be accepted because another was.

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25
Q

Loaded Term/Question

A

A term or question that is used/asked makes an implication.

26
Q

False Dichotomy

A

A or B
Not A
Therefore B

27
Q

Circular argument

A

When each statement is answered by the proceeding one, circling back to the original.

28
Q

Accident

A

Exception to the rules

29
Q

How many Fallacies are there?

A

18

30
Q

What do Metaphysics study?

A

Reality and how we perceive it.

31
Q

What is Ontology?

A

Study of the nature of being and reality.
Other branches are:
- Cosmology
- Philosophy of Space and time
- God’s Existence

32
Q

What is Cynicism?

A
  • Living in accord with nature
  • Reject conventional values of power, wealth, and fame.
  • Use your reason to its full extent
  • Live with only the bare necessities of life
  • Cynics were given title of dog.
33
Q

Who was the face of Cynicism?

A

Diogenes of Sinope.

34
Q

What is Hedonism?

A
  • Maximise total pleasure over pain is the goal of life
  • Pleasure is the only thing worth pursuing in life
  • Similar to utilitarianism
35
Q

What is the paradox of hedonism?

A

Pleasure and happiness cannot be acquired directly, only indirectly and we often fail to attain pleasures if we deliberately seek them.

36
Q

What is Epicureanism?

A
  • Maximize pleasure in moderation and avoid overindulgence.
37
Q

What is stoicism?

A
  • Improve your ethical and moral well-being
  • Follow a deterministic view
  • Develop self-control and fortitude to overcome destructive emotions
  • Be prepared for lifes events
  • Recognize what can and cannot be changed
  • Virtues are the only thing that is good and sufficient for happiness.
38
Q

What is Existentialism?

A

Existentialists believe that society conforms to the norms and expectations of the public rather than living our own lives.
There is freedom and choice in individual existence
Meaning must be found in one’s self.
Happiness and pleasure are found within oneself away from external conditions.

39
Q

What is Nihilism?

A

Life has no subjective or objective meaning
We are undetermined animals

40
Q

What are the two forms of existentialism?

A

Theistic: There is a god
Atheistic: No god

41
Q

What did Martin Heidegger think about metaphysics?

A

He believed that being is not a thing but an action/state.
Thought that all of metaphysics was a mistake

42
Q

David Hume’s Thoughts On Personal Identity

A

Personal identity does not exist. (the concept of the self is an illusion)
The identity of a person is nothing more than the impressions of that person’s perceptions

43
Q

How did John Locke define a person? What two issues did this statement raise?

A

A person is a thinking intelligent being with reason and reflection and can consider itself as itself.
1) This states not all persons are human
2) This states not all humans are persons

44
Q

How did Mary Ann Warren add to the idea of personhood?

A

She created 5 essential conditions of personhood:
- Consciousness
- Reasoning
- Self-motivation
- Communications
- Self-awareness

45
Q

What is idealism theory?

A

Reality is mental, intelligent, thought-like.
Physical objects from everyday interactions are manifestations of the mind/intelligence.

46
Q

What is materialism theory?

A

Reality is matter

47
Q

What is monism theory?

A

Reality is one all-encompassing thing.
The thing can be matter or mind
Idealism or materialism

48
Q

What is dualism theory?

A

Reality is two all-encompassing things or properties.
matter AND mind

49
Q

What are the three branches of dualism?

A

Interactionist Substance dualism:
- Mind and body are casually able to affect one another
Property Dualism
- Mind and matter cannot affect one another
Epiphenomenalism
- States of mind are by-products of physical states of the brain
- Matter can affect the mind, the mind cannot affect matter

50
Q

What is process philosophy?

A

Change is the essential feature of reality
an endless becoming

51
Q

What is Plato’s form?

A

Everything is copies of the ideal form
The ideal form cannot be altered or changed

52
Q

What is Determinism?

A

The philosophical doctrine that every event, mental and physical, is caused by a previous event.
This theory denies elements of chance, miracles, or randomness.

53
Q

What did Rene Descartes tink of the mind?

A

he believed it was an immaterial thing
perfect unity
never stops thinking
immortal
has innate ideas about god

54
Q

What were John Locke’s ideas on the mind?

A

The mind is a blank slate when it comes to the world
mind begins with sensory experiences
All thoughts, ideas, … come from sensory perceptions

55
Q

What were Immanuel Kant’s ideas on the mind?

A

the mind automatically imposes general forms of space, time, and basic logical categories onto our field of collected sensory data.
we experience the world spatially and temporally
world is casually structured and populated with objects

56
Q

Identity theory

A

Mental events are “type identical” to physical events
The mind is identical to the brain
Ex, Anyone who is thirsty or feels dehydrated has the same brain state/activity.

57
Q

What is Qualia?

A

The qualitative hard to describe feelings attached to a sensation.
Counters identity theory
Thoughts and sensations are subjective and qualitative.

58
Q

What is functionalism?

A

Mental states have a functional role
States there is a difference between mind and body
Physical input reacts with mind creating a physical output

59
Q

What is Ockhams razor?

A

The simplest option is often the correct one.
For example, if someone has a headache, they are most likely dehydrated rather than having brain disease.

60
Q

What is the law of excluded middle?

A

There is one or the other but no middle.

61
Q

What is LOGOS?

A

Logos is what governs all things and all changes within the universe.
Like water flowing in a stream constantly changing
Lead to process philosophy

Philosophy (2 decks)

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