COMM Flashcards
False Cause
Assuming that bc 1 event occurs after another, that the first event caused the later one
EX: Economy rebounded after the president was elected; therefore the president caused the economic rebound
Non Sequitur
Warrant is missing: no reasoned connection is drawn between the premises and conclusion
EX: Lou has money; therefore; they must be royalty
Fallacy of Composition
Assuming that what is true for the part is equally true for the whole
EX: I have rubber tires; therefore, I have a rubber car
Slipper Slope
Assuming that one event will necessarily result in a series of events
EX: If I fail this test, then i fail my other test, and flunk out of school
Appeal to Probability
Confuses probability with certainty
Weather report said there was a chance of rain today then where is the rain?
Either/Or
Posses a false dilemma between 2 options when other option exists
EX: America: Love it or leave it
Circular Argument
Premise of the argument presumes the conclusion
EX: Referees got it out for us since they hate UGA
Ignoring the Question aka Red Herring
Avoiding an uncomfortable issue by changing the topic to distract the auditor
EX: Reporter: Governor, did you take bribes?
Governor: No, I cut taxes for regular people
Ad Hominem
Attacks character of the opponent rather than quality of the argument
EX: That Candidate is annoying when they talk
Bandwagoning
Appeals to the popularity of an idea rather than its validity
EX: Buy our product, everyone is doing it
Equivocation
Using unclear language to exploit multiple meaning
EX: Government will not increase taxes, but instead generate revenue
Inappropriate Emotional Response
Display too much/little of an emotion for the expectation of the situation
EX: A close family member responding cheerfully at the news of a relative’s death
Metonymy
substitution of one word for an adjacent one within the same domain (Tiny leaps, nicknaming)
EX: Washington scored a touchdown!
