Stabilis
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Good morning, afternoon, evening or night. With thanks to those awesome responses on "How to: Balance", I decided that I would take my time before I go absent again to provide you all with an introduction to as many logical fallacies as possible. As you may have remembered from "How to: Balance", a logical fallacy is the failure or flaw in logic. These are specific instances of logical fallacies, defined throughout the millenniums by famous philosophers and scientists who helped to build the philosophy and science of today.
Remember, as you read, fallacies are BAD. Try not to use them. I ordered these alphabetically if you need to find them faster. Now to begin:
- List of no-no's -
Accident: unknown circumstances have no explanation, therefore they are accidents.
X happened to Y
X is ???
Therefore the event is an accident.
Ad Absurdum (appeal to absurdness): an argument makes no sense, therefore it is not true.
X is ridiculous
Therefore X is false.
Ad Hominem (appeal to aggression): an argument is subjected to criticism or aggression, therefore it becomes false.
X is criticized/attacked
Therefore X is false.
Ad Ignorantium (appeal to ignorance): nothing is known about a specific topic, but conclusions are still made about it.
X is ???
Therefore X is Y.
Ad Nauseum (repeated event): every time the same argument is made, it becomes true.
X states Y
X states Y again
Therefore Y is true.
Ad Novitam (appeal to novelty): depending on the age of the argument or subject, it is true or false.
X is old/new
Y is new/old
Therefore X is true/false and Y is true/false.
Ad Passiones (appeal to emotion): an argument or subject is related to or inspires emotion, therefore it becomes true or false.
X is liked/disliked
Therefore X is true/false.
Ad Populam (appeal to popularity) (bandwagon): since something is popular, it is true.
X is popular or well-known
Therefore anything X is true.
Ad Probabilitatem (appeal to probability) (false gamble): depending on its probability, the argument or subject is true or false.
X is likely/unlikely
Therefore anything X is true/false.
Ad Verecundiam (appeal to authority): something or someone is an authority, therefore they are always correct.
X is admired or respected
Therefore anything X is true.
Ambiguity (doublespeak): a vague argument is made. The argument is never clear.
X is Y
However Y is unclear.
Anecdotes (testimonial fact): the evidence for an argument is a personal experience or opinion, therefore the argument is true.
X is Y
Z states that Z is Y
Z states that X is not Y
Therefore Z is Y and X is not Y.
Black or White (no choice): an argument entails a limited amount of options, and any other options are discredited.
X is Y
Therefore X is not Z.
Burden of Proof: evidence is never supplied for an argument, therefore the argument is true.
X states Y
Evidence is lacking for Y
Therefore anything Y is true.
Circular Reasoning (begging the question): something is a cause and effect of itself.
X happens because X happens.
Composition (discrimination): a fraction of something is represented by the whole.
X is part of Y
Y is Z
Therefore X is Z.
Conspiracy: something is suspiciously related to another by coincidence, therefore they have a causal relationship.
X happens to Y
Z is related to X
Therefore X happens to Y because of Z.
Insignificance: an argument is exaggerated to have a greater effect.
X is related to Y
Z happens to X
Therefore Z happens to Y.
Middle Ground (moderation) (extremism): if moderation, anything extreme is false. If extremism, anything moderate is false.
X < Y
Y < Z
Therefore Y is true/false.
No True Scotsman (appeal to purity) (illicit major): a group shares a certain trait. If different, it does not share that trait.
X is Y
Z is Y
Z is A
Therefore Z is not Y because Z is A.
Slippery Slope (chain reaction): an event leads to another, which leads to another, and another...
X happens
Therefore Y happens therefore Z happens.
Special Pleading (red herring) (cherry picking): flaws in an argument are ignored, while strengths are focused upon.
X states Y
Y is true
X states Z
Z is false
Y is not ignored
Z is ignored.
Strawman (double fallacy): an argument is defeated if a supporting point is defeated.
X is related to Y.
X is false
Therefore Y is false.
< Message edited by Depressed Void -- 11/19/2013 16:22:58 >
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