Fallacies Flashcards, test questions and answers
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What is Fallacies?
Fallacies are errors in reasoning that can undermine the logic of an argument. They often occur when an individual presents an argument based on faulty assumptions, inaccuracies, or insufficient evidence. Fallacies can be divided into two categories: formal fallacies and informal fallacies.Formal fallacies are those that are found in the structure of a logical argument. These include errors like affirming the consequent, denying the antecedent, and using circular reasoning. Formal fallacies involve incorrectly concluding that because one statement is true, another must be true as well without providing sufficient evidence to support this conclusion.Informal fallacies are those that do not depend on the structure of a logical argument but instead rely upon inaccurate facts or faulty assumptions. Examples include ad hominem attacks (attacking a person rather than focusing on their argument), false cause (assuming a causal relationship between two events when there isn’t one), appeal to authority (assuming someone’s claim is true because they hold a position of power) and appeals to emotion (trying to persuade someone through emotional appeals rather than valid arguments). It’s important for individuals to become familiar with common fallacies so that they can spot them when they arise during arguments or debates. This will help them evaluate whether an individual’s argument is sound and free from defects in logic so they can make informed decisions about what conclusions to draw from it.