Chapter 6 Flashcards
Working on Relevance
Q: What is positive relevance?
A: A statement is positively relevant to the truth of another statement if and only if its truth would give some evidence or reason to support the truth of that other statement. That is, if the first statement were true, that would count in favor of the second one being true.
Q: What is Negative relevance?
A: A statement is negatively relevant to the truth of another statement if and only if it’s truth would give some reason or evidence for the falsity of that other statement. That is, if the first statement were true, that would count in favor of the second one being false.
Q: What is a reconstructed argument?
A: An argument in which the inferences (or steps) have been made more orderly, logical, and sensible by the addition of extra premises. Where the unreconstructed, or original, argument had a fallacy of relevance, the reconstructed argument will not. Often premises added to produce such a reconstruction are unacceptable, so all things considered, the cogency of the argument is not improved by the addition.
Q: What is a Non-sequitur?
A: An argument in which the premise has no bearing on the conclusion. Non sequitur is a Latin phrase used to refer to irrelevance; it means “it does not follow.”
Q: What is a red herring?
A: A premise or remark that is irrelevant to the conclusion or issue being discussed, so that it tends to distract people and lead them away from the topic or issue.
Q: What is the straw man fallacy?
A: A fallacy committed when a person misrepresents an argument, theory, or claim, and then, on the basis of that misrepresentation, claims to have refuted the position the person is misrepresented.
Q: What is an Ad hominem fallacy?
A: A fallacy committed when an irrelevant premise about the background, personality, or character of a person is given in an attempt to show that the persons claims, or arguments are false or unacceptable. For example, “He is old and ugly, so his theory should not be accepted.” Such premises about personality and background are relevant only if the person himself or herself is the issue in question, or if the reliability of his testimony or authority is at stake.
Q: What is the Tu quoque fallacy?
A: A fallacy committed when it is alleged that an arguer has a fault similar to the one, he or she is critizing and then, on the basis of that allegation, it is inferred that the criticism can be dismissed. For example, we have committed the tu quoque fallacy if we argue that because the doctor smokes, she cannot be correct in her warning that smoking has adverse effects on one’s health.
Q: What is guilt-by-association fallacy?
A: A fallacy committed when a person or a person’s views are criticized on a basis of a supposed link between them and a person or movement believed to be disreputable. An example would be “This is a socialist position, put forward by a radical, so it must be wrong.”
Q: what is Fallacious appeal to popularity?
A: A fallacy in which one reasons from the popularity of a product or belief to a conclusion about its actual merits. An example would be “Polka dots are back in fashion this year, so you should buy a polka dot fabric.” This form of argument is also called the bandwagon fallacy, or the ad populam.
Q: What is Ad populam fallacy?
A: See fallacious appeal to popularity
Q: What is a Fallacious appeal to ignorance?
A: Argument in which there is either an appeal to our ignorance about S in an attempt to show that not-S id true or probable, or an appeal to our ignorance about not-S in an attempt to show that S is true or probable. An example is “Angels exist, because no one has ever proven that they don’t.” Also known as ignorantiam.
Q: What is Ad ignorantiam fallacy?
A: See fallacious appeal to ignorance.
Q: What is burden proof?
A: Obligation, or duty, to support ones claims by argument and evidence. The burden of proof is usually said to rest on the party introducing a claim that needs proof. Various principles can be proposed as to which sorts of claims need proof, and these will give different ideas of where the “burden of proof lies,” as we put it colloquially. The burden of proof is sometimes described using the word onus as in the expression “the onus of proof is on the claimant”
Q: What is emotional appeal?
A: Use of emotion in language or imagery in such a way as to stimulate feelings and avoid the need to give reasons and evidence to support a belief or a conclusion to the effect that some action should be undertaken. Arguments based on fear, pity, and guilt are of this type.
