Fallacies of Relevance | Quizlet

What is a fallacy?

an error in reasoning; found in both ded and ind. arguments

What are the two kinds of fallacies

formal and informal

Formal Fallacy

a logical error that occurs in the form or structure of an argument; it is restricted to deductive arguments

informal fallacy

Detected only by looking at the content of the argument; in both arguments

What is a fallacy of relevance?

premises are logically irrelevant to the conclusion, even though they may appear to be psychologically relevant

Appeal to Force

Arguer threatens reader/listener; whether it's individual or group

Appeal to Pity

When an arguer tries to get people to accept a conclusion by making them feel sorry for someone

Appeal to Person (Direct Approach)

When an arguer, addressing a large group of people, excites the emotions and enthusiasm of the crowd

Appeal to Person (Indirect Approach)

Arguer aims his or her appeal at one or more individuals in the crowd, focusing on some aspect of the relationship to the crowd

4 Different Indirect Approaches

- Bandwagon argument

- Appeal to Vanity

- Appeal to Snobbery

- Appeal to Tradition

Against the Person (Ad Hominem)

attack the person rather than the argument

Abusive Ad Hominem

involves an attempt to discredit an argument or view by launching a direct personal attack

Circumstantial Ad Hominem

Arguing that a person's argument is wrong because of the person's circumstances, biases, or motivations

Tu Quoque Ad Hominem

an attempt to discredit an argument or view by attempting to make one's opponent appear hypocritical

Accident Fallacy

A general rule is applied to a specific case that it wasn't intended for. (ex. Cutting people with a knife is a crime. Surgeons cut people with knives. Surgeons are criminals.)

straw man fallacy

instead of dealing with the actual issue, it attacks a weaker version of argument

missing the point fallacy

arguer draws the wrong conclusion from the premises

red herring fallacy

a statement that responds to an argument by introducing an irrelevant detail to divert attention from the point of the argument

Distinguishes Straw Man

Always involves 2 arguers

Distorts original argument

Involves new premises

Contains a conclusion relevant to the conclusion

Distinguishing missing the point

Involves no new premises

Contains an irrelevant conclusion

Only use if no other fallacy can be found

Distinguishes red herring

Ignores the original argument

Changed the topic altogether

Contains an conclusion relevant to the new premises

Hasty Generalization

A fallacy that draws a conclusion based on insufficient or unrepresentative evidence. It often involves making assumptions about a whole group based on a small sample.