Grace Mugwe

Anis Mahmoud

Alex Kariuki

Susan Lekanayia

Assa Mbegera

Cyrus Chengo

Timothy Njoroge

For each of the Logical Fallacies assigned, undertake the following:

Provide a detailed definition;

Provide 2-3 examples;

Formulate at least one creative activity that will reinforce the understanding of the fallacies.

Also referred to as “Argumentum ad Verecundiam” – argument from modesty.

Involves making the assumption that because an authority thinks something, or is of a particular opinion, it must therefore be true.

Thus to overcome the effects of this fallacy one must defend one’s assertions on their merits in order to form a valid argument, i.e. know why the person in authority holds the particular position that they do.

Felix claims that the theory of Evolution is untrue, but he is himself not in a position to defend this assertion, so he then goes on to say that his disbelief in Evolution is based simply on the opinion of a Scientist X he knows who also questions the theory. Felix is unable to furnish us with conclusive unequivocal proof as to why Scientist X holds this opinion, leading us to conclude that the claim [in its uncorroborated state] is likely false, and at the very least unreliable.

My doctor says she’s voting for the JUBILEE Candidate in the Presidential Elections of 2017, so I will too.

Divide yourselves into groups of 5 class-mates each [according to the class setting] and openly discuss the various forms of “Inappropriate Appeal to Authority” that you have all encountered in every day life.

Did any one (or all) of you feel/think you were overwhelmed by the temptation to succumb to this fallacy? If so, what can you do in future to avoid falling inside the pit of this fallacy?

Derived from the Latin equivalent ‘Ad Ignorantium’ (argument from ignorance).

Also known as “Burden of Proof Fallacy”.

Involves placing the burden of proving an argument to be true, on the wrong side – that is, when a lack of evidence for side A is taken to be evidence for side B in cases in which the burden of proof actually rests on side B.

(a) You cannot prove that God does not exist, therefore He does.

(b) I’ve never seen an alien in my entire life, so they must not exist.

Kerubo: “I believe most people in our village practice witchcraft.”

Moraa: “Do you have any proof?”

Kerubo: “Yes. No one has been able to prove that our people do not practice witchcraft.”

This form of fallacy is synonymous with the following terminologies:

“Either/Or Fallacy”;

“False Dilemma”;

“False Dichotomy”;

“Black & White Fallacy”;

“Excluded Middle Fallacy”;

“Bifurcation”.

This fallacy occurs when a writer builds an argument upon the assumption that there are only two choices or possible outcomes when actually there are several; it fails to recognise that outcomes are seldom so simple.

A. Women – can’t live with them, can’t live without them!

B. Kenya – love it or leave it!

Fred: Hi Sylvia…wassup?

Sylvia: Hey Mark, am ok. So, what’s happening? You look a bit worried.

Fred: I just don’t know what this world is coming to nowadays, you know….

Sylvia: What do you mean?

Fred: Haven’t you noticed how fast Rwanda has grown economically of late…? Doesn’t that bother you?

Sylvia: No, I don’t see why.

Fred: We must invade Rwanda, or else they’ll will soon undermine our position as the economic hub of East Africa.

Sylvia: You’re crazy…!

1. CRITICAL THINKING: Tools for Taking Charge of Your Learning and Your Life (3rd ed.) – Richard Paul & Linda Elder.

2. Critical Thinking (9th ed.) – Moore & Parker.

3. http://www.logicalfallacies.info/; last accessed on 16-11-2013.

4. http://www.fallacyfiles.org/taxonomy.html; last accessed on 16-11-2013.