vocab terms Flashcards
A deductive argument consisting of two premises and a conclusion, where the conclusion follows logically from the premises
Syllogism
A valid deductive argument form that affirms the antecedent in a conditional statement to conclude the consequent. Its structure is:
1. If P, then Q
2. P.
3. Therefore, Q
Modus ponen
A valid deductive argument form that Denis the consequent in a conditional statement to conclude the negation of the antecedent, its structure is:
1. If P, the Q.
2. Not P
3. Therefore, not Q. (this is invalid)
Modus Tollens
A formal fallacy that mistakenly assumes that if the antecedent of a conditional statement is false, then the consequent must also be false. Its structure is:
1. If P, then Q.
2. Not P.
3. Therefore,not Q (this is invalid)
Denying the antecedent
A formal fallacy that mistakenly assumes that if the consequent of a conditional statement is true, then the antecedent must also be true. The structure is:
1. If P, then Q
2. Q
3. Therefore P. (this is invalid)
Affirming the consequent
A statement affirming that an action if right or wrong or that a person (or ones’ motive or character) is good or bad
Moral statement
A statement that does not affirm that an action is
right or wrong or that a person (or one’s motive or character) is good
or bad
Nonmoral statement
The fallacy of arguing in a circle- that is, trying to use a statement as both a premise and the conclusion of the argument. Such an argument says, in effect, P is true because P is true
Begging the question
The fallacy of relying on the opinion of someone thought to be an expert who is not
Appeal to authority
The fallacy of assigning two different meanings to the same term in an argument
Equivocation
The fallacy of trying to convince someone to accept a conclusion by appealing to only fear, guilt, anger, hate, compassion, and the like
Appeal to emotion
The fallacy of using dubious premises to argue that doing a particular action will inevitably lead to other actions that will result in disaster, so the first action should not be done
Slippery slope
The use of a flawed analogy to argue for a conclusion
Faulty analogy
The fallacy of arguing that the absence of evidence entitles us to believe a claim
Appeal to ignorance
The fallacy of misrepresenting someones claim or argument so it can be more easily refuted
Straw man
The fallacy (also known as ad hominem) of arguing that a claim should be rejected solely because of the characteristics of the person who makes it
Appeal to the person
The fallacy of drawing a conclusion about an entire group of people or things based on an undersized sample of the group
Hasty Generalization
Paying attention only to evidence that confirms our beliefs while ignoring opposing evidence
Confirmation bias
The tendency to rely on evidence not because its reliable but because its vivid or memorable
Availability error
Reasoning for the purpose of supporting a predetermined conclusion, not to uncover the truth
Motivated reasoning
The common human failing of being ignorant of how ignorant we are
Dunning-Kruger effect
An explanation of what makes an action right or what makes a person or thing good
Moral theory
A moral assessment that is free from bias and distorting passions as possible. We generally trust such a judgment unless there is a reason to doubt it
Considered moral judgment
A theory asserting that what makes an action right is its consequences
Consequentialist theory
