Fallacies

Question 0

Mistake committed when it argued that a proposition is true/false on the ground that it has NOT been proven false nor true

Answer 0

Argumentum Ad Ignorantiam

Question 1

• When argument relies on premises that are NOT relevant to its conclusion
• described as IRRELEVANT to the conclusion (Ignoratio Elenchi)

Answer 1

Fallacies of Relevance

Non-Sequential

Question 2

e.g. Nobody has ever proved to me there’s a God, so I know there is no God

Answer 2

Argumentum Ad Ignorantiam

Question 3

• arises when the appeal is made to parties having no legitimate claim to authority in the matter at hand

Answer 3

Argumentum Ad Verecundiam

Question 4

e.g. You can believe the moon is covered with dust because the president of the home owner association said so, and he should know

Answer 4

Argumentum Ad Verecundiam

Question 5

• when the attack is leveled NOT at the claims being made or the merits of the argument, BUT at the person of the opponent

Answer 5

Argumentum Ad Hominem

Question 6

• when the attack is directly against persons, seeking to defame or discredit them

Answer 6

Abusive Ad Hominem

Question 7

e.g. What she says about Johannes Kepler’s astronomy of the 1600’s must be just so much garbage. Do you realize she’s only fourteen years old?

Answer 7

Abusive Ad Hominem

Question 8

• when the attack is indirectly against persons, seeking to defame or discredit them, hold their view chiefly because of their circumstances or interest

Answer 8

Argumentum Ad Hominem

Question 9

e.g. Why is the private development of resources so more efficient than any government? an executive asked.

Answer 9

Argumentum Ad Hominem

Question 10

• When careful reasoning is replaced with devices calculated to elicit enthusiasm and emotional support for conclusion advanced
• seen frequently in many TV commercials

Answer 10

Argumentum Ad Populum

Question 11

e.g. Drink Enervon prime everyday…

Answer 11

Argumentum Ad Populum

Question 12

• When careful reasoning is replaced with devices calculated to elicit sympathy on the part of the hearer for the objects of the speakers concern
• use of pity, sympathy or simply appealing to emotion to accept their claim

Answer 12

Argumentum Ad Misericordiam

Question 13

e.g. As History instructor you accept Max’s claim that he earned an A on history quiz because he broke his wrist while playing for the college’s last basketball game

Answer 13

Argumentum Ad Misericordiam

Question 14

• When careful reasoning is replaced with direct or insinuated threats to bring about the acceptance of some conclusion
• use of force, intimidation, coercion, harassment in order to press an issue

Answer 14

Argumentum Ad Baculum

Question 15

e.g. Promote to a higher position otherwise I will reveal to others your deep secret

Answer 15

Argumentum Ad Baculum

Question 16

• An appeal to gain or profit. It is committed by a person to adhere to adopt a belief, policy or course of action against the person’s will; forces the person to do it bcoz the advantage preferred is given

Answer 16

Argumentum Pansarilum

Question 17

e.g. I will give you job provided you would join our prayer meetings and accept our belief

Answer 17

Argumentum Pansarilum

Question 18

• An appeal to the sense of greed or cupidity of a person. Instead of presenting a logically valid argument, it uses money as a bribeto the opponent to concede

Answer 18

Argumentum Ad Crumemam

Question 19

e.g. Sir, Please give me a passing mark. I am willing to share my fortune. How much?

Answer 19

Argumentum Ad Crumemam

Question 20

e.g. The money is deposited already in your account. Remember, you see nothing…you heard nothing…

Answer 20

Argumentum Ad Crumemam

Question 21

• When the premises miss the point, purporting to support one conclusion while in fact supporting or establishing another

Answer 21

Argumentum Ad Ignoratio Elenchi

Question 22

e.g. “In court, Thompson testifies that the defendant is a honorable person, who wouldn’t harm a flea. The defense attorney rises to say for which the first conclusion is irrelevant.”

Answer 22

Argumentum Ad Ignoratio Elenchi

Question 23

• mistaken arguments arise from reliance upon some proposition that is assumed to be true but is in fact false, dubious or without warrant

Answer 23

B. Fallacies of Presumption

Fallacies of Illicit Assertion

Question 24

• question asked in such a way as to presuppose the truth of some assumption buried in that question

Answer 24

P.1 Complex question

Question 25

• when one treats as the cause of a thing what is not really the cause of that things, blunder in reasoning is based upon causal relations
• fallacy that implies that what is not the cause is assumed to be the cause of something

Answer 25

P.2 False cause

Question 26

when one assumes in the premises of an argument the truth of what one seeks to establish in the conclusion of that argument

• a form of circular reasoning

Answer 26

P.3 Begging the Question

Petitio Principi

Question 27

• when one applies a generalization to an individual case that does not properly govern
• A wrong application of the general rule to circumstantial (accidental) cases or situation

Answer 27

P.4 Fallacy of Accident

Question 28

• when one moves carelessly or too quickly from a single case to an indefensible broad generalization
• from circumstantial cases you draw a general rule or statement

Answer 28

P.4 Fallacy of Converse Accident

Question 29

• mistaken arguments are formulated in such a way as to rely on shifts in the meaning of words or phrases, from their use in the premises to their conclusion

Answer 29

C. Fallacies of Ambiguity

Fallacies of Expression

Question 30

• When the same word or phrase is used has more than one meanings, deliberately or accidentally in the formulation of an argument

Answer 30

A.1 Fallacy of Equivocation

Question 31

• When one of the statements in an argument has more than one plausible meaning, because of the loose or awkward way in which the words in the statement have been combined

Answer 31

A.2 Fallacy of Amphiboly

Question 32

• When the shift of meaning arises within an argument as a consequence of changes in the emphasis given to its words or parts

Answer 32

A.3 Fallacy of Accent

Question 33

• When one reasons mistakenly from the attributes of a part to the attributes of the whole

Answer 33

A.4 Fallacy of Composition (Hasty Generalization)