Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Fallacy
Fallacies study guide
14
Philosophy
Undergraduate 1
10/24/2017

Additional Philosophy Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Appeal to Ignorance
Definition

Definition: Appealing to ignorance as evidence of something.

 

 

Example: We have never seen a UFO, therefore there is no way they can exist. 

Term
Hasty Generalization
Definition

Definition: Find a commonality in a few things and then generalize to assume that it is also true for all things in the same class. 

 

Example: I have tried 2 different red wines and they were both dry and bitter, therefore all red wines must be try and bitter. 

Term
Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc
Definition

Definition: It happened after, so it was caused by. 

 

Example: My tire has a nail in it after I left QuickTrip, it had to have happened in their parking lot. (It could have actually happened anytime before or after being in the parking lot)

Term
Either/Or
Definition

Definition: Considering only the extremes. No middle ground. 

 

Example: You either love cilantro or you hate it. There is no in between. 

Term
Composition
Definition

Definition: When a conclusion of an argument depends on an erroneous characteristic from parts of something to a whole or vise versa. 

 

Example: Electrical wires connect the light switch to power that turns on the light bulb. The light bulb is part of the electrical wiring. 

Term
Extravagant Hypothesis
Definition

Definition: Formulating a complex or unlikely explanation for an even when a simpler explanation would do. 

 

Example: All of the stories and tales of big foots existence. Many people spending lots of money and time proving the existence of big foot. The easier explanation, big foot doesn't exist. 

Term
Appeal to Authority
Definition

Definition: Using an opponent's ability to disprove a conclusion as proof of the validity of the conclusion. 

 

Example: Someone tells me they run a small country. I know it is not true, they know it is not true, but I cannot find prove that it is a lie. That person then claims they are in fact the ruler of this country simply because I cannot prove that they are wrong. 

Term
Slippery Slope
Definition

Definition: Assumes a chain reaction of cause-effect events which result in some eventual dire outcome. 

 

Example: If we legalize marijuana use than eventually we will legalize cocaine, ecstasy, heroine and meth. 

Term
Division
Definition

Definition: When one reasons logically that something true for the whole must also be true of all or some of its parts. 

 

Example: Little girls are known to love the color pink, therefore my daughter's favorite color will be pink. 

Term
Circular Reasoning
Definition

Definition: Stating in one's proposition that which one aims to prove. 

 

Example: The human race is here because of God; God is here because of the human race. 

Term
Is/Ought
Definition

Definition: When the assumption is made that because things are a certain way, they should be that way. It also consists of the assumption that because something is not now occurring, this means it should never occur. 

 

Example: Marijuana is illegal and ought to stay that way. 

Term
Appeal to Tradition
Definition

Definition: We should continue to do things as they have been done in the past. We shouldn't challenge time-honored customs or traditions. 

 

Example: We will have a turkey at thanksgiving because that is how it has always been, you can't change it. 

Term
False Analogy
Definition

Definition: Use analogical comparisons to connect the item in question to another item that has desired characteristics. You can then claim that the first item has the desired property. 

 

Example: Your home is like a business. It should be run on a tight schedule. 

Term
Bandwagon Appeal
Definition

Definition: Concluding that an idea has merit simply because many people believe it or practice it. 

 

Example: The Cowboys are the best football team. Just because there are a lot of fans that try to prove this, does not mean it is true. 

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