Fallacies 1 22

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Chapter 3

• Fallacies 1- 22

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Fallacies

• Is a defect in an argument that consist in
  something other than merely false premises.
• A formal fallacy is one that may be identified by
  merely examining the form or structure of an
  argument. How it is worded not what it says.
• A informal fallacy are those that can be detected
  only by examining the content of the argument.

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Fallacies 1 -22

• Appeal to Force occurs whenever an arguer poses a
  conclusion to another person and tells that
  person either implicitly or explicitly that some
  harm will come to him or her if he or she does
  not accept the conclusion.
• Example The most beautiful women in America are
  from the state of Oregon. If you dont agree
  with me I will have my bigger older brother from
  Oregon beat you up.

4
Appeal to Pity

• Occurs when an arguer attempts to support a
  conclusion by merely evoking pity from the reader
  or listening.
• Example I lost my girlfriend, my first wife, and
  my mistress so there is no way I cheated on my
  second wife.

5
Appeal to the People

• Uses these desires to get the reader or listener
  to accept a conclusion.
• Two types Direct Approach and Indirect Approach
• Example Of course you are Mormon, 99.9 of all
  people I meet from Utah and Eastern Oregon are
  Mormon.

6
Argument Against the Person

• This fallacy always involves two arguers. One of
  them advances (either directly or implicitly) a
  certain argument, and the other then responds by
  directing his or her attention not to the first
  persons argument but to the first person
  himself.
• Example While in office Jimmy Cater favored
  immigration in America. But, Jimmy Cater is
  nothing more than a bad one term President that
  caused poverty problems in many bordering states
  near Mexico.

7
Accident

• Is committed when a general rule is applied to a
  specific case it was not intended to cover.
• Example Freedom of Press is a constitutional
  right. Therefore, the AJC can criticize Jim
  Harrick until he gets fired, his wife leaves him,
  and he has no credibility.

8
Straw Man

• Is committed when an arguer distorts an
  opponents argument for the purpose of more
  easily attacking it, demolishes the distorted
  argument, and then concludes that the opponents
  real argument has been demolished.
• Example The professors at CCSU are proposing a
  no hair cut policy for the staff. What do they
  expect all the professors to look like a bunch
  of hippies.

9
Missing the Point

• Illustrates a special form of irrelevance. This
  fallacy occurs when the premises of an argument
  support one particular conclusion, but then a
  different conclusion, often vaguely related to
  the correct conclusion, is dawn.
• DUIs are at a all-time high in Clayton County.
  The conclusion is obvious quick serving beer to
  people who own cars.

10
Red Herring

• Is committed when the arguer diverts the
  attention of the reader or listener by changing
  the subject to a different but sometimes subtly
  related one.
• Example The Falcons are an exciting team to
  watch this season. But they are still only 1-2.
  Michael Vick could be the best quarterback ever.
  

11
Appeal to Unqualified Authority

• Is a variety of the argument from authority and
  occurs when the cited authority or witness lacks
  credibility. Someone is stated an expert in an
  area they are not.
• Example My basketball coach says that Johnny
  Untinas is the best quaterback of all-time. So,
  we must conclude, that Johnny Untinas is the
  greatest QB of all-time.

12
Appeal to Ignorance

• When the premises of an argument state that
  nothing has been proved one way or the other
  about something, and the conclusion then makes a
  definite assertion about that thing.
• Example The Hawks have tried ever year to make
  the NBA Championship, and yet they have never
  made it. Therefore, the Hawks are not a good NBA
  team. (that changes this year!)

13
Hasty Generalization

• Is a fallacy that affects inductive
  generalizations. The fallacy occurs when there
  is a reasonable likelihood that the sample is not
  representative of the group.
• Example After driving my new Jeep Wrangler for
  two days I realized the Jeep Wrangler is the
  best car ever invited.

14
False Cause

• Occurs whenever the link between premises and
  conclusion depends on some imagined causal
  connection that probably does not exist.
• Example During the first three quizzes all the
  people who made 20 out of 20 ate breakfast. So,
  before the next quiz every one should eat
  breakfast.

15
Slippery Slope

• Is a variety of the false cause fallacy. It
  occurs when the conclusion of an argument rests
  upon an alleged chain reaction and there is not
  sufficient reason to think that the chain
  reaction will actually take place.
• Dont touch that cookie! Next, youll want the
  cake, the pie, the fudge, and the ice cream.
  Youll gain a ton!

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Weak Analogy

• Is committed when the analogy is not strong
  enough to support the conclusion that is drawn.
• Harry is a good student because he studies hard,
  prepares a schedule, and is smart. Jewls is a
  good student. She also studies hard, prepares a
  schedule, therefore she is probably smart.

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Begging the Question

• Is committed whenever the arguer creates the
  illusion that inadequate premises provide
  adequate support for the conclusion by leaving
  out a key premise, by restating the conclusion as
  a premise, or by reasoning in a circle.
• Cheating is morally wrong. That being the case
  copying someones take-home quiz is morally
  wrong.

18
Complex Question

• Is committed when a single question that is
  really two questions is asked and a single answer
  is then applied to both questions. Ever question
  presumes the existence of a certain condition.
• Have you quit drinking? You answered yes,
  therefore you used to be an alcoholic.

19
False Dichotomy

• Is committed when a disjunctive premise presents
  two unlikely alternatives as if they were the
  only available, and the arguer then eliminates
  the undesirable alternative, leaving the
  desirable one as the conclusion.
• Either you let me drive your car or I will never
  speak to you again. Dont you want to let me
  drive your car.

20
Suppressed evidence

• Explain that a cogent argument is an inductive
  argument with good reasoning and true premises
  the requirement of true premises includes the
  proviso that the premises not ignore some
  important pieces of evidence that out weight the
  presented evidence and in tells a very different
  conclusion.
• Most professors at CCSU are easy to talk to about
  grades or any academic issues. Therefore,
  students should go talk to their professors
  before, during, or after class.

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Equivocation

• Occurs when the conclusion of an argument depends
  on the fact that a word or a phrase is used,
  either explicitly or implicitly, in 2 different
  senses in the argument.
• A whale is a mammal. Therefore, a large whale is
  a large mammal.

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Amphiboly

• Occurs when the arguer misinterprets an ambiguous
  statement and then draws a conclusion based on
  this faulty interpretation.
• Professor Brown said she was going to give an
  exam in Biology covering the causes of cancer.
  Therefore, there must be a lot of cancer cases in
  that class.

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Composition

• Occurs when it is argued that because the parts
  have a certain attribute, it follows that has a
  whole has the same attribute.
• Gordon likes coke. He also likes beer.
  Therefore, he would like coke mixed with beer.

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Division

• Is the exact reverse of composition.
• The National Association of Basketball Coaches
  is over fifty years old. Coach Baldwin is a
  member therefore he must be over fifty years old.