WEEK 10 - Fallacies

Question 1

what does inconsistency mean (in regards to fallacies) ?

Answer 1

fallacies of inconsistency are cases where something inconsistent, self-contradictory or self-defeating is presented

Question 2

what are fallacies ?

Answer 2

a mistaken belief, especially one based on unsound argument

Question 3

what are biases ?

Answer 3

are persistent and widespread psychological tendencies that can be detrimental to objectivity and rationality

Question 4

why do we study fallacies and biases ?

Answer 4

• Avoid falling prey to them
• Identify and explain other people’s mistakes
• Appreciate the value of rigorous and formal reasoning and know when to use it

Question 5

what is Ad Hominem ?

Answer 5

arguing against an opponent’s claim or argument by attacking the opponent rather than the argument

Question 6

what is ad ignorantiam (appeal to ignorance) ?

Answer 6

claiming that something is true because it hasn’t been proven false (or that something is false because it hasn’t been proven true)

Question 7

what is ad misericordiam (appeal to pity) ?

Answer 7

trying to evoke pity to argue for a conclusion

Question 8

what is ad populum (appeal to popularity) ?

Answer 8

arguing that a claim is true because it is popular

Question 9

what is affirming the consequent ?

Answer 9

arguing as follows: If P, then Q. Q. Therefore, P.

Question 10

what is denying the antecedent ?

Answer 10

arguing as follows: If P, then Q. Not-P. Therefore, not-Q.

Question 11

what is begging the question ?

Answer 11

making an argument with premises that presuppose its conclusion

Question 12

what is loaded question ?

Answer 12

posing a question that contains an unfair or unwarranted assumption

Question 13

what is composition?

Answer 13

assuming that a whole has the same properties as its parts

Question 14

what is division ?

Answer 14

assuming that the parts of a whole have the same properties as the whole

Question 15

what is equivocation ?

Answer 15

making an argument in which a key term switches meaning

Question 16

what is false dilemma ?

Answer 16

presenting a limited source of alternatives when there are others that should be considered

Question 17

what is gambler’s fallacy ?

Answer 17

concluding that an event is more or less likely because of independent events

Question 18

what is genetic fallacy ?

Answer 18

judging that something is likely to have some property because it came from something else that has the property

Question 19

what is non sequitur ?

Answer 19

making an argument whose conclusion does not follow from or receive support from its premises

Question 20

what is post hoc, ergo propter hoc ?

Answer 20

inferring that X is the cause of Y because Y occurred after X

Question 21

what is straw man ?

Answer 21

misrepresenting a claim or argument in order to make it easier to argue against

Question 22

what is suppressed evidence ?

Answer 22

presenting only confirming evidence when there is also disconfirming evidence

Question 23

what is the naturalistic fallacy ?

Answer 23

inferring that something should be a certain way because it is that way

Question 24

arguing against an opponent’s claim or argument by attacking the opponent rather than the argument

is the definition for what ?

Answer 24

Ad Hominem

Question 25

claiming that something is true because it hasn’t been proven false (or that something is false because it hasn’t been proven true)

is the definition for what ?

Answer 25

Ad Ignorantiam (appeal to ignorance)

Question 26

trying to evoke pity to argue for a conclusion

is the definition for what ?

Answer 26

Ad Misericordiam (appeal to pity)

Question 27

arguing that a claim is true because it is popular

is the definition for what ?

Answer 27

Ad Populum (appeal to popularity)

Question 28

arguing as follows: If P, then Q. Q. Therefore, P.

is the definition for what ?

Answer 28

Affirming the consequent

Question 29

arguing as follows: If P, then Q. Not-P. Therefore, not-Q.

is the definition for what ?

Answer 29

Denying the antecedent

Question 30

making an argument with premises that presuppose its conclusion

is the definition for what ?

Answer 30

Begging the question

Question 31

posing a question that contains an unfair or unwarranted assumption

is the definition for what ?

Answer 31

Loaded Question

Question 32

assuming that a whole has the same properties as its parts

is the definition for what ?

Answer 32

Composition

Question 33

assuming that the parts of a whole have the same properties as the whole

is the definition for what ?

Answer 33

Division

Question 34

making an argument in which a key term switches meaning

is the definition for what ?

Answer 34

Equivocation

Question 35

presenting a limited source of alternatives when there are others that should be considered

is the definition for what ?

Answer 35

False Dilemma

Question 36

concluding that an event is more or less likely because of independent events

is the definition for what ?

Answer 36

Gambler’s Fallacy

Question 37

judging that something is likely to have some property because it came from something else that has the property

is the definition for what ?

Answer 37

Genetic Fallacy

Question 38

making an argument whose conclusion does not follow from or receive support from its premises

is the definition for what ?

Answer 38

Non Sequitur

Question 39

inferring that X is the cause of Y because Y occurred after X

is the definition for what ?

Answer 39

Post hoc, ergo propter hoc

Question 40

misrepresenting a claim or argument in order to make it easier to argue against

is the definition for what ?

Answer 40

Straw Man

Question 41

presenting only confirming evidence when there is also disconfirming evidence

is the definition for what ?

Answer 41

Suppressed evidence

Question 42

inferring that something should be a certain way because it is that way

is the definition for what ?