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Logic Fallacies List |
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The table below lists the
thought errors described in Stephen's Logical
Fallacies. |
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A. Fallacies of Distraction |
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False Dilemma : |
Two choices are given when in fact there are three options. |
From Ignorance : |
Because something is not known to be true, it is assumed to be false. |
Slippery Slope : |
A series of increasingly unacceptable consequences is drawn. |
Complex Question : |
Two unrelated points are conjoined as a single
proposition. |
B. Appeals to Motives in Place of Support |
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Appeal to Force : |
The reader is persuaded to agree by force. |
Appeal to Pity : |
The reader is persuaded to agree by sympathy. |
Consequences : |
The reader is warned of unacceptable consequences. |
Prejudicial Language : |
Value or moral goodness is attached to believing the author. |
Popularity : |
A proposition is argued to be true because it is widely
held to be true. |
C. Changing the Subject |
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Attacking the Person: |
(1) the person's character is attacked. |
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(2) the person's circumstances are noted. |
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(3) the person does not practice what is preached. |
Appeal to Authority: |
(1) the authority is not an expert in the field. |
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(2) experts in the field disagree. |
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(3) the authority was joking, drunk, or in some other way not being serious. |
Anonymous Authority : |
The authority in question is not named. |
Style Over Substance : |
The manner in which an argument (or arguer) is presented
is felt to affect the truth of the conclusion. |
D. Inductive Fallacies |
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Hasty Generalization : |
The sample is too small to support an inductive generalization about a population. |
Unrepresentative Sample : |
The sample is unrepresentative of the sample as a whole. |
False Analogy : |
The two objects or events being compared are relevantly dissimilar. |
Slothful Induction : |
The conclusion of a strong inductive argument is denied despite the evidence to the contrary. |
Fallacy of Exclusion : |
Evidence which would change the outcome of an inductive
argument is excluded from consideration. |
E. Fallacies Involving Statistical Syllogisms |
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Accident : |
A generalization is applied when circumstances suggest that there should be an exception. |
Converse Accident : |
An exception is applied in circumstances where a
generalization should apply. |
F. Causal Fallacies |
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Post Hoc : |
Because one thing follows another, it is held to be caused by the other. |
Joint effect : |
One thing is held to cause another when in fact they are both the joint effects of an underlying cause. |
Insignificant : |
One thing is held to cause another, and it does, but it is insignificant compared to other causes of the effect. |
Wrong Direction : |
The direction between cause and effect is reversed. |
Complex Cause : |
The cause identified is only a part of the entire cause
of the effect. |
G. Missing the Point |
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Begging the Question : |
The truth of the conclusion is assumed by the premises. |
Irrelevant Conclusion : |
An argument in defense of one conclusion instead proves a different conclusion. |
Straw Man : |
The author attacks an argument different from (and weaker
than) the opposition's best argument. |
H. Fallacies of Ambiguity |
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Equivocation : |
The same term is used with two different meanings. |
Amphiboly : |
The structure of a sentence allows two different interpretations. |
Accent : |
The emphasis on a word or phrase suggests a meaning
contrary to what the sentence actually says. |
I. Category Errors |
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Composition : |
Because the attributes of the parts of a whole have a certain property, it is argued that the whole has that property. |
Division : |
Because the whole has a certain property, it is argued
that the parts have that property. |
J. Non Sequitur |
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Affirming the Consequent : |
Any argument of the form: If A then B, B, therefore A. |
Denying the Antecedent : |
Any argument of the form: If A then B, Not A, thus Not B. |
Inconsistency : |
Asserting that contrary or contradictory statements are
both true. |
K. Syllogistic Errors |
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Fallacy of Four Terms : |
A syllogism has four terms. |
Undistributed Middle : |
Two separate categories are said to be connected because they share a common property. |
Illicit Major : |
The predicate of the conclusion talks about all of something, but the premises only mention some cases of the term in the predicate. |
Illicit Minor : |
The subject of the conclusion talks about all of something, but the premises only mention some cases of the term in the subject. |
Fallacy of Exclusive Premises : |
A syllogism has two negative premises. |
Fallacy of Drawing an Affirmative Conclusion From a Negative Premise: |
As the name implies. |
Existential Fallacy : |
A particular conclusion is drawn from universal
premises. |
L. Fallacies of Explanation |
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Subverted Support : |
The phenomenon being explained doesn't exist. |
Nonsupport : |
Evidence for the phenomenon being explained is biased. |
Untestability : |
The theory which explains cannot be tested. |
Limited Scope : |
The theory which explains can only explain one thing. |
Limited Depth : |
The theory which explains does not appeal to underlying
causes. |
M. Fallacies of Definition |
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Too Broad : |
The definition includes items which should not be included. |
Too Narrow : |
The definition does not include all the items which should be included. |
Failure to Elucidate : |
The definition is more difficult to understand than the word or concept being defined. |
Circular Definition : |
The definition includes the term being defined as a part of the definition. |
Conflicting Conditions : |
The definition is self-contradictory. |
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160 |
290 - 450 |
My opinion: Stephen Downes has
created Fact recognition, accurate cogitation,
correct thinking, proper logic, and true deduction from
the |
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Have A Great
Day! |
|
This Vaughns Summary
of Stephen's
Logic Fallacies |