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Fallacies of Distraction
Two choices are given when in fact there are three options. False Dilemma:
Because something is not known to be true, it is assumed to be false. From Ignorance:
A series of increasingly unacceptable consequences is drawn. Slippery Slope:
Two unrelated points are conjoined as a single proposition Complex Question:
Appeals to Motives in Place of Support
The reader is persuaded to agree by force Appeal to Force:
the reader is persuaded to agree by sympathy Appeal to Pity:
The reader is warned of unacceptable consequences. Consequences:
Value or moral goodness is attached to believing the author. Prejudicial Language:
A proposition is argued to be true because it is widely held to be true. Popularity:
Changing the Subject.
(1) the person's character is attacked (2) the person's circumstances are noted (3) the person does not practise what is preached. Attacking the Person:
(1) the authority is not an expert in the field (2) experts in the field disagree (3) the authority was joking, drunk, or in some other way not being serious. Appeal to Authority:
The authority in question is not named.Anonymous Authority:
The manner in which an argument (or arguer) is presented is felt to affect the truth of the conclusion. Style Over Substance:
Inductive Fallacies.
The sample is too small to support an inductive generalization about a population. Hasty Generalization:
The sample is unrepresentative of the sample as a whole. Unrepresentative Sample:
The two objects or events being compared are relevantly dissimilar. False Analogy:
The conclusion of a strong inductive argument is denied despite the evidence to the contrary. Slothful Induction:
Evidence which would change the outcome of an inductive argument is excluded from consideration. Fallacy of Exclusion:
Fallacies Involving Statistical Syllogisms.
A generalization is applied when circumstances suggest that there should be an exception. Accident:
An exception is applied in circumstances where a generalization should apply. Converse Accident :
Causal Fallacies
Because one thing follows another, it is held to cause the other. Post Hoc:
One thing is held to cause another when in fact they are both the joint effects of an underlying cause. Joint effect:
One thing is held to cause another, and it does, but it is insignificant compared to other causes of the effect. Insignificant:
The direction between cause and effect is reversed. Wrong Direction:
The cause identified is only a part of the entire cause of the effect. Complex Cause:
Missing the Point.
The truth of the conclusion is assumed by the premises.Begging the Question:
An argument in defense of one conclusion instead proves a different conclusion. Irrelevant Conclusion:
The author attacks an argument different from (and weaker than) the opposition's best argument Straw Man:
Fallacies of Ambiguity
The same term is used with two different meanings.Equivocation:
The structure of a sentence allows two different interpretations. Amphiboly:
The emphasis on a word or phrase suggests a meaning contrary to what the sentence actually says. Accent:
Category Errors.
Because the attributes of the parts of a whole have a certain property, it is argued that the whole has that property. Composition:
Because the whole has a certain property, it is argued that the parts have that property. Division:
Non Sequitur
Any argument of the form: If A then B, B, therefore A. Affirming the Consequent:
Any argument of the form: If A then B, Not A, thus Not B. Denying the Antecedent:
Asserting that contrary or contradictory statements are both true. Inconsistency:
Syllogistic Errors .
A syllogism has four terms. Fallacy of Four Terms:
Two separate categories are said to be connected because they share a common property. Undistributed Middle:
The predicate of the conclusion talks about all of something, but the premises only mention some cases of the term in the predicate. Illicit Major:
The subject of the conclusion talks about all of something, but the premises only mention some cases of the term in the subject. Illicit Minor:
A syllogism has two negative premises. Fallacy of Exclusive Premises
As the name implies. Fallacy of Drawing an Affirmative Conclusion From a Negative Premise
A particular conclusion is drawn from universal premises. Existential Fallacy:
Fallacies of Explanation.
The phenomenon being explained doesn't exist. Subverted Support
Evidence for the phenomenon being explained is biased. Non-support
The theory which explains cannot be tested. Untestability
The theory which explains can only explain one thing. Limited Scope
The theory which explains does not appeal to underlying causes. Limited Depth
Fallacies of Definition.
The definition includes items which should not be included. Too Broad
The definition does not include all the items which shouls be included. Too Narrow
The definition is more difficult to understand than the word or concept being defined. Failure to Elucidate
The definition includes the term being defined as a part of the definition. Circular Definition
The definition is self-contradictory. Conflicting Conditions
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