SCIE 403 Errors of Reasoning: Logical Fallacies

Vocabulary flashcards defining logical fallacies and errors in reasoning covered in the SCIE 403 lecture.

Logical Fallacies

Faulty assumptions that create the appearance of reasonable justification, giving the appearance of a valid argument in a leading or deceptive way.

Ad Hominem

Attacking someone’s character rather than addressing their argument.

Affirming the Consequent

Taking a true statement and then invalidly inferring its converse, where a consequent means what comes after the 'then' in an 'if / then' statement.

Anecdotal

Using personal experience or an isolated incident to make general claims.

Appeal to Authority

Using opinions of authority figures or institutions as justification rather than examining their arguments.

Appeal to Ignorance

Emphasizing gaps in knowledge to avoid taking action in the face of compelling evidence.

Appeal to Nature

Claiming that because something is natural, it is valid, justified, or safe.

Bandwagon

Appealing to popularity.

Begging the Question

Framing a question or statement in a way that presumes a particular conclusion (also called arguing in a circle).

Black or White

Presenting two mutually exclusive, 'either / or' options as the only possibilities.

Conspiracy

Assuming that sinister groups are hiding the truth, insisting on hidden motives and deeds, and re-interpreting an absence of evidence as evidence of its truth.

Furtive Fallacy

The idea that reality is hidden and ignored, and that outcomes are assumed to be caused by hidden misconduct or wrongdoing by people in power.

Illusionary Pattern Perception

A phenomenon where evidence against a conspiracy and an absence of evidence for it are re-interpreted as evidence of its truth.

False Cause

The assumption that, because similar patterns can be found in data, then things are related and / or causal (also called spurious correlation).

Middle Ground

Stating that a compromise between two extremes is the truth (also called argument to moderation).

Non-Sequitur

Stating a conclusion that doesn’t follow from previous points ('it doesn’t follow'), also called a red herring when used to redirect focus away from an issue.

Slippery Slope

Claiming that if we let A happen, then Z will inevitably happen.

Straw Man

Making absurd caricatures of someone else’s views to dismiss their views outright.