critical thinking chapter 6

• Induction/Logical Fallacies


  Committed when there is a failure in the premise to raise the probability of the claim/conclusion
• Induction Fallacies


  • Generalization
  • Weak Analogies
  • Mistaken Appeal to Authority
  • Mistaken Appeal to Popularity
  • Cause & Effect
  • Slippery Slope
  • Sweeping generalization
• Relevance Fallacies


  Committed when the argument is NOT RELEVANT/RELATED to the claim/conclusion
• Relevance Fallacy


  • You tell me it's dangerous to text when I'm driving, but I have seen you doing it.
• Relevance Fallacies


  Includes irrelevant topic designed to DIVERT ATTENTION from the real issue in the argument
• Relevance Fallacies


  • Ad Hominem
  • Straw Man
  • False Dichotomy/Dilemma
  • Burden of Proof
  • Begging the Question/Circular Argument
  • Appeal to Emotion
  • Irrelevant Conclusion

  
• Ad Hominem


  Attacking the person presenting the evidence, not the argument. The attack is usually personal and unrelated to the argument.
• Ad Hominem


  • Not only have I seen you drive and text, but just last week you were saying it isn't dangerous to do that.
• Straw Man


  Diverts attention away from the real argument by distorting/misrepresenting it
• Straw Man


  • You: I think we should legalize medical marijuana. Friend: Maybe you think everyone should go around stoned, but I think that's absurd.
• False Dichotomy/Dilemma


  Conclusion to the argument is given via set alternatives, and dismissing other possible alternatives. Also known as "Either/Or" Fallacy.
• False Dichotomy/Dilemma


  • "Look, either we clean out the garbage, or this junk will run us out of the house and home."
• Burden of Proof


  Happens when people try to prove their position by misplacing the burden of proof and trying to make others disprove it
• Burden of Proof


  • Guns should be outlawed. I'll bet you can't think of a single good reason they shouldn't.
• Begging the Question/Circular Argument


  The given premise is similar to the given claim/conclusion
• Begging the Question/Circular Argument

  • A: We should invest more money in expanding the national highway system. B: That would be a mistake. A: How can anyone object to more highways?
• Appeal to Emotion


  Used when people's emotion (e.g., fear, anger, guilt, pity) is persuaded to gain support instead of giving a real argument

  
• Appeal to Emotion


  • Obviously, the government told the truth about the budget. They wouldn't lie to us about it.
• Irrelevant Conclusion


  Does not belong to the previously mentioned fallacies
• Irrelevant Conclusion


  • Wishful Thinking
  • Denial
  • Two Wrongs Make a Right
  • Ducking with Irrelevancies/Moving the Goal Post
• Relevance Fallacies DISTRACT us from the real arguments