Fallacies Flashcards
(20 cards)
fallacies
problems with arguments
appeal to authority
relying on apparant, not genuine, authorities
appeal to ignorance
clain is true because not prven false & vice versa
appeal to consequences
good argument if good consequences come from the conclusion and vice versa
affirming the consequent
if P, then Q. But Q, therefore P
denying the antecedent
if P then Q. but not P, therefore not Q
the ad hominem
rejecting arguments by attacking, rather than evaluating the argument on merits
equivocation
word used in two different meanings and success of the argument depends on the change in meaning
begging the question
assuming as a premise that conclusion is true
slippery slope
taking a step which leads to another and another and another etc
decision point
because we cannot identify a precise cut-off or decision point, we cannot distinguish between correct and incorrect uses of a term
sunk cost
not stopping something just because you have already lost stuff to it e.g. not dropping out of uni because you have already spent money on it even when you don’t want to do it anymore
gamblers
taking random events into account for future predictions/events
special pleading
the current case is an exception to a general rule without relevant justifications
correlation
two events occur together so the first event causes the second (causation)
single cause
assuming a single cause to a problem when there are multiple causes but none of them are sufficient
over-determination
assuming a single cause for a problem when there is multiple and all of them are sufficient
is/ought
an argument with a normative conclusion but not a normative supporting premise
partial judgment
because something/one has a good aspect, they are good overall
fundamental attribution error
assuming that character flaws drive other peoples’ poor decisions, while extenuating circumstances explain away ones own poor decisions e.g. speeding
