FALLACIES Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is a fallacy?
A mistake in reasoning that results in an argument which is unsound, invalid, or weak
Bad forms of reasoning, but often psychologically persuasive
What is the Argument from Ignorance (Ad Ignoratiam)?
A logical fallacy committed when a proposition is declared true simply because it has not been proven false and vice versa
General structure: X makes a claim P; No one makes a claim that P is false/true; Therefore, claim P is false/true.
What is the general structure of the Argument from Ignorance?
X makes a claim P; No one makes a claim that P is false/true; Therefore, claim P is false/true.
What is the Appeal to Inappropriate Behaviour/Authority (Ad Verecundiam)?
A logical fallacy committed when an appeal is made to an incompetent authority on a complex matter
General structure: X is improperly positioned as an authority figure on subject S; X makes a claim P on subject S; Therefore, claim P is true.
What is the general structure of the Appeal to Inappropriate Authority?
X is improperly positioned as an authority figure on subject S; X makes a claim P on subject S; Therefore, claim P is true.
What is the Argument Against the Man (Ad Hominem)?
A logical fallacy where the person making the argument is attacked rather than the argument itself
Two main forms: (i) Abusive and (ii) Circumstantial.
What is the general structure of the Ad Hominem (Abusive) fallacy?
X makes a claim P; Y makes an attack on X; Therefore, claim P made by X is false.
What is the general structure of the Ad Hominem (Circumstantial) fallacy?
X makes a claim P; Y asserts that X has made claim P because it is in X’s interest to do so; Therefore, claim P is false.
What is Begging the Question (Petito Principii)?
A logical fallacy where a person assumes the truth of what he is attempting to prove
General structure: A is true because A is true; A is true because B is true, and B is true because A is true.
What is the general structure of Begging the Question?
A is true because A is true; A is true because B is true, and B is true because A is true.
What is the Appeal to Emotion (Ad Populum)?
A logical fallacy committed when a person resorts to the people’s approval of a claim as evidence for the truth, instead of presenting evidence
General structure: The majority of people approve of X; Therefore, X is true.
What is the general structure of the Appeal to Emotion?
The majority of people approve of X; Therefore, X is true.
What is the Appeal to Pity (Ad Misericordiam)?
A logical fallacy where a person resorts to pity or related emotions to support a claim instead of providing suitable evidence
General structure: X appeals to pity in making claim P because of special circumstances; The special circumstances are irrelevant to claim P; Therefore, claim P is true.
What is the general structure of the Appeal to Pity?
X appeals to pity in making claim P because of special circumstances; The special circumstances are irrelevant to claim P; Therefore, claim P is true.
What is the Appeal to Force (Ad Baculum)?
A logical fallacy committed when a person resorts to force or the threat of force instead of rational means to support a claim
General structure: If X accepts claim P as true, then Q will follow; Q is something unpleasant; Therefore, P is not true.
What is the general structure of the Appeal to Force?
If X accepts claim P as true, then Q will follow; Q is something unpleasant; Therefore, P is not true.
What is an Irrelevant Conclusion (Ignoratio Elenchi)?
A logical fallacy committed when the actual conclusion proved in an argument is not the intended conclusion
General structure: X is discussing topic P; Y introduces topic Q which is only remotely related to topic P; Topic Q becomes the subject of the discussion.
What is the general structure of an Irrelevant Conclusion?
X is discussing topic P; Y introduces topic Q which is only remotely related to topic P; Topic Q becomes the subject of the discussion.
