Line of Reasoning/Fallacy Quiz

Line of Reasoning

Logical sequence of a writer’s claim, evidence, and commentary that leads a reader to or from the writer’s conclusion

Deductive Reasoning

When you take 2 true statements or premises to form a conclusion

Syllogism

Logical structure that uses major premise and minor premise to reach a necessary conclusion

Deductive Strengths

If the 1st two premises are true, the conclusion is likely true, good way to combat stereotypes

Deductive Weakness

If either premise is false/too general, the conclusion is subject to change, it’s possible to over generalize

Inductive Reasoning

A method of drawing conclusions by going from the specific to the general, usually contrasted with deductive reasoning, where you go from general information to specific conclusions

Inductive Reasoning Path

Specific observation - pattern recognition - general conclusion

Casual Reasoning

Reasoning that something causes something else

Compartitive Reasoning

Reasoning that something is like or unlike something else

Fallacy

Common errors in reasoning that will undermine the logic of your argument

Ad Hominem (“Against the Man”)

Attacking a specific person/group instead of addressing the argument

Straw Man

When a person simply ignores a person’s actual position and subs a distorted, exaggerated, or misinterpreted version of that position, gaslighting

Ad Populum (“Appeal to Common Practice”)

Arguing that something must be okay because it is a common behavior/most people do it

Slippery Slope

When a person asserts that some event must inevitably follow another without any argument for the inevitability of the event

False Dilemma (either/or)

Asserting that only 2 choices exist, presents a “black and white” kind of thinking

Red Herring (smoke screen/arguing off point)

Introducing irrelevant information to divert attention from the original topic

Post HOC ergo Propter HOC (“After this, therefore, because of this”)

Assuming that because one event followed another, the first caused the second

Hasty Generalization

A conclusion/generalization based on too little evidence

Appeal to Authority

The misuse of an authority’s opinion to support an argument when it is illegitimate or irrelevant

Non Sequiter (“It does not follow”)

Drawing unwarranted or oversimplified conclusions from seemingly ample evidence