Lecture 11, Chapter 5 - ETEC 171 PDF

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ETEC 171 - Critical Thinking Using Computer Technology, Logic and Fallacies....

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Lecture 11 Chapter 5: Fallacies of Relevance ★ Logical fallacy — or fallacy, for short—is an argument that contains a mistake in reasoning. ★ Fallacies of relevance are mistakes in reasoning that occur because the premises are logically irrelevant to the conclusion. Two types of relevance: ○ Negative: Statements that count against other statements are said to be negatively relevant to those statements ○ Positive: A statement is positively relevant to another statement if it counts in favor of that statement ★ Fallacies of insufficient evidence are mistakes in reasoning that occur because the premises, though logically relevant to the conclusion, fail to provide sufficient evidence to support the conclusion. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Personal attack: Arguer attacks the character of another arguer. Attacking the motive: Arguer attacks the motive of another arguer. Look who’s talking: Arguer attacks the hypocrisy of another arguer. Two wrongs make a right: Arguer tries to justify a wrong by citing another wrong. Scare tactics: Arguer threatens a reader or listener. Appeal to pity: Arguer tries to evoke pity from a reader or listener. Bandwagon argument: Arguer appeals to a reader’s or listener’s desire to be accepted or valued. 8. Straw man: Arguer misrepresents an opponent’s position (distortion). (twisting) 9. Red herring: Arguer tries to distract the attention of the audience by raising an irrelevant issue. 10. Equivocation: Arguer uses a key word in two or more different senses. 11. Begging the question: Arguer assumes the point to be proven (A, therefore, A).

Exercise 5.2.1, page 134

7. Begging the question

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Bandwagon argument Personal attack Appeal to pity Straw man Look who’s talking Equivocation

8. Personal attack 9. Scare tactics 10. Two wrongs make a right 11. Straw man 12. Personal attack 13. Equivocation...