foundations of quantitative reasoning

logic

the study of the methods and principals of reasoning

argument

a reasoned or thoughtful process involving premises and conclusion

premise

a set of facts or assumptions

conclusion

what premises support in an argument

fallacy

a deceptive argument in which the conclusion is not well supported by the premises

appeal to popularity

large numbers of people believing or acting some way used inappropriately as evidence that the belief or action is correct

false cause

one event coming before another being incorrectly taken as evidence the first even caused the next

appeal to ignorance

uses ignorance about the truth of a proposition to conclude the opposite

hasty generalization

a conclusion drawn from an inadequate number of cases or from cases that have not been sufficiently analyzed

limited choice

artificially precluding choices that ought to be considered

appeal to emotion

attempts to evoke an emotional response as a tool of persuasion

personal attack

attacking personally rather than arguing logically

circular reasoning

the premise and conclusion are essentially the same

diversion (red herring)

attempts to divert attention from the real issue by focusing on another issue

straw man

an argument based on a distortion of someone's words or beliefs