Ch 6. Fallacies

Question 1

What are fallacies?

Answer 1

Reasoning “trick” someone might use while trying to persuade you to accept a conclusion
Very commonplace and do not realize we are using them
Appeals to system 1 thinking

Question 2

Ad hominem fallacy

Answer 2

Against the person, attacking the messenger over the message

Question 3

Narrative fallacy

Answer 3

Assuming that because we can tell a story, it explains the occurrence
Stories > statistics

Question 4

Slipper slope fallacy

Answer 4

Making assumptions that a proposed step will set off an uncontrollable chain of undesirable events when its unlikely it will happen

Question 5

Searching for perfect solutions fallacy

Answer 5

Falsely assuming that because part of a problem remains after a solution, it should not be adopted
If a solution is not perfect, is shouldn’t be used

Question 6

Appeal to popularity (ad populum) fallacy

Answer 6

Attempt to justify a claim by appealing to sentiments that large groups of people have in common
Falsely assumes that anything favored by a large group is desirable

Question 7

Appeal to questionable authority fallacy

Answer 7

Supporting a conclusion by citing an authority who lacks special expertise on the issue at hand

Question 8

Appeal to emotions fallacy

Answer 8

Use of emotionally charged language to distract readers from relevant reasons and evidence

Question 9

Straw person fallacy

Answer 9

Misrepresenting/distorting opponent’s POV so it is easier to knock them down
Thus creating a POV that doesn’t exist

Question 10

Either-or or false dilemma fallacy

Answer 10

Assuming only 2 alternatives when there are actually more than 2

Question 11

Explain by naming fallacy

Answer 11

Falsely assuming that because you have provided a name for something, you’ve explained it

Question 12

Planning fallacy

Answer 12

Tendency for people or organizations to underestimate how long they will need to complete a task, despite numerous past experiences that say otherwise

Question 13

Glittering generality fallacy

Answer 13

Use of vague, emotionally appealing words that create halo effect and deceives us in to approving something without closely examining it

Question 14

Red herring fallacy

Answer 14

Irrelevant topic presented to divert attention from original issue at hand

Question 15

Begging the question fallacy

Answer 15

An argument in which conclusion is assumed in the reasoning, circular argument

Question 16

Pro hominem fallacy

Answer 16

For the person, halo effect
Opposite of ad hominem