Logic and Logical Fallacies Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering core logic concepts, types of reasoning, and named logical fallacies defined in the lecture transcript.

Validity

A structural property strictly applying to deductive arguments where an argument is valid if and only if the truth of its premises guarantees the truth of its conclusion.

Entailment

A condition where the premises of a valid argument logically guarantee the conclusion, regardless of whether those premises are real-world facts.

Argument

A list of statements used for convincing someone of the truth.

Conclusion

A call for someone to believe what is true; in formal logic, it is the statement that the argument aims to make someone believe.

Premises

The reasons provided within an argument for believing that the conclusion is true.

Deduction

A type of reasoning categorized as gathering.

Induction

A type of reasoning categorized as generalization.

Abduction

A type of reasoning categorized as explanation-based or evidence-based.

Formal Fallacy

A reasoning error that occurs specifically due to a bad argument structure.

Informal Fallacy

A reasoning error that is not caused by the form or structure of the argument.

Ad Hominem Fallacy

An argument directed against the person giving the argument or defending an idea instead of critiquing the argument itself, which distracts from the problem at hand.

Direct Ad Hominem

The blatant form of ad hominem where an argument is dismissed by directly insulting or attacking the messenger's character or intelligence.

Circumstantial Ad Hominem

An attack on the specific circumstance of the person making an argument in order to strip their position of merit.

Tu Quoque Fallacy

An attempt to disprove someone's argument on the grounds that they are also guilty of the same thing (also known as the 'You Too' fallacy).

Straw Man Fallacy

Distorting, exaggerating, or ridiculously simplifying an opponent's argument to create a fragile, distorted version that is easy to attack.

False Dilemma Fallacy

Presenting a situation as having only two extreme possibilities (a false binary) when a wider spectrum of options actually exists.

Slippery Slope Fallacy

Claiming that taking a small first step will inevitably trigger a chain reaction leading to a major catastrophe, without providing evidence of inevitability.

Appeal to Ignorance

Arguing that a statement must be true simply because it hasn't been proven false, or vice versa.

False Cause Fallacy (Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc)

Incorrectly assuming that because Event B occurred after Event A, Event A must have caused Event B.

Fallacy of Division

Incorrectly assuming that what holds true for a whole system or group must automatically be true for every individual part.

Fallacy of Composition

Incorrectly assuming that what is true for individual parts must necessarily apply to the whole system.

Appeal to Inappropriate Authority Fallacy (Ad Verecundiam)

Asserting that a statement is true purely because a famous or influential figure stated it, without presenting logical supporting evidence.

Begging the Question / Circular Reasoning

An argument structure where the conclusion being proven is already assumed to be true inside one of its premises.

Appeal to Popularity (Ad Populum Fallacy)

Arguing that an idea, practice, or claim is true or right simply because many people support or practice it.

Genetic Fallacy

Judging the validity of an idea based purely on its origin or history rather than evaluating its current logic and merits.

Hasty Generalization Fallacy

Drawing a broad, sweeping conclusion based on a sample size that is far too small or unrepresentative.

Red Herring Fallacy

Introducing an irrelevant, emotionally charged, or controversial side topic to divert attention away from an argument you are losing.

Confirmation Bias Fallacy

Seeking out, interpreting, and remembering information that confirms pre-existing beliefs while dismissing or ignoring contradicting data.

Poisoning the Well Fallacy

Sharing toxic, negative, or abusive information about an opponent before they speak to ensure the audience evaluates their words with a negative bias.

Nitpicker's Fallacy (Style Over Substance)

Completely ignoring the core content or evidence of an argument to focus entirely on a minor, irrelevant formal error to declare victory.

Appeal to Pity Fallacy

Substituting logic and evidence with sad stories or emotional blackmail to evoke guilt and bypass critical evaluation.

Burden of Proof Fallacy

Shifting the responsibility of providing proof onto the person disproving a claim, rather than requiring the person making the extraordinary claim to prove it.

God of the Gaps Fallacy

Taking a phenomenon that science or current human knowledge cannot fully explain yet and jumping to the conclusion that the explanation must be supernatural.

Ad Ignorantiam Fallacy

An argument from ignorance, which means believing something because of a lack of evidence for an opposing view, or believing that something is true because there is no evidence that it is false.