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Date Submitted: 12/03/2013 09:23 PM
U.S. Diversity
Danielle Lake
Basic Fallacies
Hurley, Patrick J. A Concise Introduction to Logic, 9th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2006.
Fallacy
• A defect in an argument that is not simply a false premise (false information).
• Mistake in reasoning
• Creation of an illusion that makes the argument appear stronger than it is
Formal Fallacies
• Identifiable by examining the FORM of the argument alone
• No need to examine the content (examine the actual truth of the premises)
• EX. All cats are mammals. Form: All A are B.
All dogs are mammals. All C are B.
Therefore, All cats are dogs All A are C.
Informal Fallacies
• Detectable by examining the content of the argument only, not the form
• EX. A student is a person.
Therefore, a bad student is a bad person.
• These fallacies do all sorts of things: pull on your emotions, distort the argument to strengthen it, discredit an argument by discrediting a person or circumstances, etc.
Appeal to Force
• Arguer states a conclusion and then, implicitly or explicitly, threatens the listener.
• Threats are logically irrelevant to the argument
• Its intention is to cover up for a missing premise, for the weakness of the argument by threatening the listener.
Appeal to Pity
• Attempts to support a conclusion by evoking pity from the listener when it is irrelevent
• A lot of charities may try to do this or defendants in a trial
• Ex. You should raise my grade in the class to passing. I know I failed the class, but I almost passed and I had a lot of family issues going on at the time distracting me. I also fell ill in the middle of the semester and never fully recovered.
• These excuses are not logically relevant to whether or not the grade should be raised to passing.
• Note: Even though it is not logically relevant it may be psychologically relevant.
Appeal to the People
• Uses everyone’s wish to...