Vocab Unit Five

Question 1

Informal Fallacies

Answer 1

A popular but invalid (or unhelpful) form of argument.

Question 2

Fallacies of Distraction

Answer 2

An argument that confuses the issue by pointing to information that is actually irrelevant to the conclusion.

Question 3

Ipse Dixit

Answer 3

An illegitimate appeal to authority.

Question 4

Ad Populum

Answer 4

An illegitimate appeal to a majority.

Question 5

Ad baculum

Answer 5

An illegitimate appeal to force.

Question 6

Ad hominem

Answer 6

A verbal attack on a person rather than his argument.

Question 7

Bulverism

Answer 7

Attacking a position by pointing out how the arguer came to hold it.

Question 8

Tu quoque

Answer 8

Points to an inconsistency between a person’s argument and behavior.

Question 9

Ad ignorantiam

Answer 9

Ab argument from lack of evidence.

Question 10

Chronological snobbery

Answer 10

An argument based merely on the passage of time.

Question 11

Fallacies of Ambiguity

Answer 11

Are arguments that confuse the real issue with multiple, vague, or otherwise unclear meanings.

Question 12

Equivocation

Answer 12

Changing the definition of a term in the middle of an argument.

Question 13

Accent

Answer 13

Alters the meaning of a statement through changed emphasis.

Question 14

Amphiboly

Answer 14

A vagueness of grammar that disguises or alters meaning.

Question 15

Composition

Answer 15

The fallacy of transferring attributes from part to whole.

Question 16

Division

Answer 16

The fallacy of transferring attributes from whole to part.

Question 17

Fallacies of Form

Answer 17

Arguments that fail to establish their conclusions because of a weakness in logical structure.

Question 18

Circular reasoning

Answer 18

Secretly assuming what you are trying to prove.

Question 19

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

Answer 19

improperly assuming that a sequence in time implies a cause and effect. “P happened before Q, therefore P caused Q”

Question 20

Either/or

Bifurcation

Answer 20

Making an arguement based on a false dilemma.

Question 21

Complex Question

Answer 21

A question crafted to exclude any possible legitimate response. “Have you stopped beating your wife yet?”

Question 22

Apriorism

Answer 22

A hasty generalization.

Question 23

Induction

Answer 23

A legitimate generalization.