Logical Fallacies

Question 1

Exclusivity

Answer 1

1) An Argument will fail to establish that the list of options is exhaustive (that no other option is available) or an argument will fail to sufficiently eliminate some of the options
2) An Argument will falsely assume that two options are exclusive (that it cannot be some combination of both)

Question 2

Sampling

Answer 2

1) The same group must be an accurate representation of the group it purports to represent
2) Those surveyed must understand the survey and not have any motive to misrepresent themselves
3) Any conclusions made from the survey must be intelligibly related to the questions asked in survey.

Question 3

Composition

Answer 3

1) From the fact that a whole has a certain property, it is concluded that all/most/some of its parts must have it as well
2) From the fact that one/most/all of the parts have a certain property, it is concluded that the whole must have this property.

Question 4

Sufficiency and Necessity

Answer 4

The Fallacy of the Converse, and the Fallacy of the Inverse.

Question 5

Causation

Answer 5

1) Correlation does not imply Causation
- Another element could be the cause
- Reversing Cause and Effect

Question 6

Equivocation

Answer 6

1) Shift in Meaning

2) Related, but Distinct, Concepts

Question 7

Composition

Answer 7

Analogy: it is a fallacy to make an analogy between two items that differ in crucial respects.

Comparison: It is fallacious to make inappropriate or incomplete comparisons between two things.

Question 8

Attack the Person (Ad Hominem)

Answer 8

1) Attack a person’s character

2) Inconsistent Behavior

Question 9

Absence of Evidence

Answer 9

Absence of Evidence does not mean Evidence of Absence

1) Failure to prove that a claim is false is taken as evidence that the claim is true
2) Failure to prove that a claim is true is taken as evidence that the claim is false.
3) Defeating the evidence for a claim is taken to show that the claim is false.

Question 10

Circular Reasoning

Answer 10

When an argument’s conclusion simply restates one or more premises, as the conclusion.

Question 11

Percentage vs. Amount

Answer 11

1) Percentages cannot justify conclusions regrading definite amounts
2) Definite amounts cannot justify conclusions regarding percentages

Question 12

Temporal

Answer 12

The attempt to draw definitive conclusions about one time period (past, present, or future) from premises about another time period (past, present, or future) results in a temporal fallacy.

Question 13

Perception vs. Reality

Answer 13

1) In appropriate authority: it is a fallacy to rely on the authority when the topic in question is outside their area of expertise.
2) Irrelevant opinions: It is a fallacy to rely on the opinions of people where their opinions are irrelevant to the truth of the matter asserted.

Question 14

Logical Force

Answer 14

Modality (Possible vs. Definite)

Quantification (All vs Most vs Some)