Comp 2 Exam Flashcards

Flashcards for Comp 2 Exam Review

Knowledge

A belief that is held for good reasons and is true

Denying the Antecedent (Remember Modus Tollens: Mode of denying)

If A, then B: Not A, Therefore not B.

Law of Non-contradiction

An assertion that for any object x and any property F, x cannot be both F and not-F at the same time and in the same sense

Law of the Excluded Middle

either proposition P or not-P must be true (but not both)

Law of Identity

An assertion that whatever something is, that is what it is; A=A

Principle of Bivalence

for any clear, unambiguous propositional statement, that statement is either true or false

Ad Populum

“To the people” Because lots of people believe something, it must be true

Inappropriate Appeal to Authority

Developing ethos by appealing to non-proper authorities

Genetic Fallacy

Trying to prove an idea false or true based on the source of that idea

Stipulation Encroachment

Action of attaching a novel definition to a word or idea that already has a widely known, established meaning

Argument by analogy

Objects x and y have properties P1, P2, and P3: Object x has property P4: Therefore, y probably has property P4

Modus Ponens (MP)

mode of affirming (If A, then B: A therefore B)

Affirming the Consequent (Remember Modus Ponens affirms the antecedent)

If A then B: A therefore B

Simile

A comparison that is explicitly stated (like or as)

Fallacy

Mistake in logic or reasoning

Red Herring

Intentionally distracting the argument away from relevant issues

Valid

one that has no mistakes in reasoning (even if untrue)

Modus Tollens (MT)

mode of denying (If A, then B: not B, therefore not A)

Thesis

Main claim

Ad Hominem

“To the man” Making a personal attack instead of making an argument

Analogy

Comparison between two different items that draws on a relevant feature of one item to better understand the other for the purpose of clarification or explanation

Equivocation

Using a term in two different ways, thus creating confusion

Straw Man

Creating an intentionally weak, distorted, or obviously false version of an opponent’s argument and then attacking it instead of attacking the real, strong version

Begging the Question

Assuming in a premise what the argument is supposed to be proving

Subjective Claim

A claim about matters of personal preference

Objective Claim

A claim that can be proven true or false because it pertains to matters of the external world

False Dilemma (either/ or fallacy)

Saying a question or issue only as two possible answers when that is not the case

Circular Definition

A definition that does not really explain the meaning of a word

Metaphor

Comparison made without explicit explanation

Deductive Argument

An argument in which if the premises are true, the conclusion is certainly true

Correlation

When two events are regularly associated with one another

Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc

“After this, therefore because of this” Assumption that because a second event comes after the first event, the first event caused the second event

Speaker

Sometimes the voice of the poet; sometimes not

Situation

Set of circumstances depicted by the poet

Setting

Place or places where action unfolds

Imagery

Any sensory detail or evocation in a work; more narrowly, the use of figurative language to evoke a feeling, to call to mind an idea, or to describe an object.

Symbolism

A person, place, or thing or event that figuratively represents or stands for something else. Often that which is represented is more abstract and general

Point of View

Perspective from details of a work are viewed— focus and voice

Round Character

Complex and act in ways that readers might not expect

Dynamic Character

Character who undergoes significant internal change throughout a story

Modus Tollens (MT)

mode of denying (If A, then B: not B, therefore not A)