Untitled Deck Flashcards
(23 cards)
What are fallacies of relevance?
Informal fallacies where something irrelevant is substituted for strong argumentation.
List the fallacies of relevance discussed in this course.
- Ad hominem
- Genetic
- Straw figure
- Red herring
- Equivocation
- Fallacies of irrelevant appeal (appeal to false authority, appeal to force, appeal to popularity, appeal to consequences)
What does ‘ad hominem’ mean?
‘Against the man’ in Latin; it attacks the character of the person making the argument instead of the argument itself.
Provide an example of an ad hominem fallacy.
Taylor dismisses Jaden’s argument about patient checks by attacking Jaden’s character instead of addressing the argument.
What is the genetic fallacy?
Accepting or rejecting a claim based on its origin rather than providing reasons for the belief.
Give an example of the genetic fallacy.
Micah argues for capital punishment’s validity based solely on its long history instead of providing reasons.
What is the straw figure fallacy?
Misrepresenting another person’s argument to make it easier to attack, rather than addressing the actual argument.
Provide an example of a straw figure fallacy.
Sue misrepresents her opponent’s position on reducing auto emissions as wanting to eliminate cars.
What does ‘red herring’ refer to in argumentation?
Changing the subject to distract from the original argument.
Give an example of a red herring fallacy.
Paul deflects Jenny’s concern about his behavior by accusing her of trying to control him.
What is equivocation?
Using a word with multiple meanings in an argument, treating them as if they are the same.
Provide an example of equivocation.
Lena uses ‘crime’ to mean both a travesty and something illegal, confusing the argument.
What are fallacies of irrelevant appeal?
A subgroup of fallacies where irrelevant reasons are given instead of solid support for an argument.
List the types of fallacies of irrelevant appeal.
- Appeal to false authority
- Appeal to force
- Appeal to popularity
- Appeal to consequences
What is an appeal to false authority?
Citing an authority’s opinion as justification for a claim when they are not an expert in that area.
Provide an example of an appeal to false authority.
Tom claims Sparkle Magic is the best dish soap because Leonardo DiCaprio recommends it, despite DiCaprio being an actor, not a dish soap expert.
What is an appeal to force?
Using a threat instead of a reason for accepting a claim.
Provide an example of an appeal to force.
Lydia threatens to complain to the principal if her child doesn’t receive extra time on an assignment.
What is an appeal to popularity?
Citing what is accepted by a large number of people as a justification instead of providing solid reasoning.
Give an example of an appeal to popularity.
Vernon claims a band is good simply because it’s hard to get tickets, without providing evidence of their quality.
What is an appeal to consequences?
Using the consequences of a claim as a reason to accept or reject it, which may not be relevant.
Differentiate between relevant and irrelevant appeal to consequences.
Relevant appeals provide good reasons to accept a conclusion, while irrelevant appeals do not.
What is the main takeaway regarding fallacies of relevance?
They substitute irrelevant elements for strong argumentation, weakening the argument.
