Week Logical Fallacies

8/16/2019 Week Logical Fallacies

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/week-logical-fallacies 1/79

GXEX1406

Thinking and Communication Skills

Logical Fallacies



2GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 12 Logical Fallacies



GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 12 Logical Fallacies

Premise & Conclusion

Premise:All girls have long eyelashes.

Cows has long eyelashes

Conclusion:Therefore, all girls are cows

!s this statement logicall" #ight$




Is this reasoning logical?

Premise:

! cloud is "0# $ater%

! $atermelon is "0# $ater%! &lane can 'l( through a cloud%

Conclusion:

There'ore) a &lane can 'l( througha $atermelon*



%GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 12 Logical Fallacies

There is logic in the premiseof the statements –

BUT the conclusion makes no

logical sense.

The reasoning is flawed

The conclusion is illogical




Fallac" is a mistake in #easoning

& statement o# a#gument 'ased on (alsein(e#ence that causes inco##ectness in #easoning

)sed to cloud ou# logical thinking* a++eal to ou#emotions #athe# than intellect

,(ten mas-ue#ade as logical statements

This t(&e o' arguments are called

+ogical 'allacies



.GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 12 Logical Fallacies

,-.ecti/e o' the course

/ou ill 'e a'le to identi("(allacies

&'le to indicate instanceso# t"+e o( (allac"

Situations

ound in ne$s&a&ers)magaines) re&orts)ad/ertisements




&'le to s+ot +oo##easoning kno h" it is#ong

&'le to co##ect othe#3smistakes* o# #e(ute themconincingl"

Su++lements "ou#knoledge on logic

2h( Stud(

allacies ?




no hen "ou##easoning in an essa" is(laed o# -uestiona'le

7#eent "ou (#om makinggene#ali8ed statementsithout 'acking it u+ ith

sound eidence

2h( Stud(

allacies ?




(1) Fallacies that aeal to emotions(total !)

9 Claims a#e made that a++eal to emotions#athe# than #eason

(") Fallacies that #istract (total $)

9 Claims made to die#t attention(#om the main issue

($) %ther common tyes (total &)

3 categories o' 'allacies




(a) Aeal to fear'force'scare tactics a#aculum

The claim makes use o( th#eats:

The th#eats a#e i##eleant to the a#gument:

The#e(o#e the claim is (allacious

15 TPE 17 a&&eal to emotions




Example appeal to fear!force!scare tactics

*f you #on+t finish yourvegetales, you will get cancer

*f you #o not forwar# this mail to1 frien#s, you will face a# luc- (chain mail)

Listerine: -ills the germ thatcauses a# reath




28 !++!CI,9S?

o roof that not eating veges cancause cancer / ot all cancers are

cause# y not eating veges

9 o roof that the chain mail causes a#luc-

%ther factors may also cause a#

reath.




() Aeal to vanity'flattery

)se (latte#" to make the #eade# o# listene# (eel

s+ecial:

)se +e#suasie language:

,(ten used in ade#tisements: To entice

consume#s to 'u" +#oducts o# se#ices

15 TPE 1



1%GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 12 Logical Fallacies

Example "ppeal to #anit$!flatter$

* #on+t moisturi0e, * #on+t tone, * ust use 2ove3

456 $.7i: for those who #eny

themselves nothing

744 luechi 5asterCar#, a

ra#ically new way of life




28 !++!CI,9S?

9 6here is the roof that 2ove is $ in18 That it moisturi0es 9 tones otherthan it ust cleans 8

9 Can a car really last for life8

9having the new master car# may notnecessary change your life in ara#ical way



1.GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 12 Logical Fallacies

() Aeal to numers' an#wagon

'eer ressure

)se to solicit g#ou+ identit"

7ut +#essu#e on indiiduals to (ollo the

c#od:

,(ten used in ade#ts 9 to 'u" so(ta#e o#ha#da#e o# othe# +#oducts se#ices

15 TPE 1




Example "ppeal to num%ers!%andwagon!peer pressure

5illions of eole smo-e. Therefore

smo-ing must not e a# for eole.

All the really smart eole watch

niversity Challenge. ;ou shoul# watch

too.

Classical music is really neat ut li-e

my frien#s * refer Lin-in+ Par-. 6e are

not ner#s.




28 !++!CI,9S?

9 <ust ecause millions of eole #osomething is a oor asis to say that theaction is right.

9 ot smart eole also watch that T=show3

9 ;ou #on+t have to follow your frien#s in

your choice of music to listen to. 6hereis the roof that classical music loversare ner#s8




() Aeal to ity (a# miserico#ium)

)se +it" to esta'lish the t#uth o( aconclusion

)se language to eoke com+assion toinduce the listene# to acce+t the claim

15 TPE 1




Example "ppeal to pit$

;ou shoul# hire him as a coach ofour footall team ecause he ro-e

his leg an# cannot lay ig time

footall anymore.

6e shoul# reelect >nci- Fau0i as

our 5P ecause his wife ust #ie#an# his crile# mother lives with

him.




7it" does not se#e as eidence (o# aclaim:

The#e(o#e the claim is (allacious

2h( allacious?




(a) A# ?ominem ' against the erson

Sometimes called 9 (allac" o( o++osition

&ttacks the +e#son3s +e#sonalit"*'elie(s* a((iliation* ethnicit" to #e;ect aclaim

TPE 7 allacies that distract total 3

7 Claim that di#erts attention from the

main issue




Example "d'(ominem

Encik Lati( ;ust dio#ce his i(e: <ocan his +#o+osal 'e an" good$

<o can "ou ote (o# Salmah as

+#e(ect hen she is #elated to the<eadmist#ess$

/ou ag#ee that the goe#nment shouldinc#ease on milita#" s+ending 'ecause

"ou# (athe# o#ks in a munitions (acto#":




The cha#acte# o# ci#cumstance o( the+e#son has no claim on the t#uth o( the

claim:

Encik Lati( dio#cing his i(e has got nothingto do ith his o#king a'ilit"

Salmah ma" hae the makings o( a good

+#e(ect een though she is #elated to the

head mist#ess:

2h( allacious?




() @e# ?erring

&n issue '#ought into the +ictu#e to die#t thelistene#3s o# #eade#3s attention (#om the #eal

issueThis ha++ens a lot in meetings and g#ou+discussions:

=e aa#e o( this>

TPE




Example )ed herring

Wh" o##" a'out the 7andas'ecoming e?tinct hen e hae a la#ge

num'e# o( homeless in ou# on

count#"$ Wh" should e donate to the !#a- a#

hen e still hae +eo+le liing in

+oe#t"$




,ne issue is not #elated to the othe#:The#e(o#e the (i#st claim cannot ;usti(" the

second claim:

The e?tinction o( +andas and the homelessa#e to se+a#ate issues

The cont#i'ution to !#a- a# and the +light o(

the +oo# a#e to se+a#ate issues:

2h( allacious?




(c) 7traw 5an

,e#sim+li(" an eidence to su++o#t aclaim:

The sim+li(ication* the#e(o#e cannotsu++o#t the claim

TPE




E;am&le: Stra$ <an = $h( 'allacious

Those ho (ao# gun cont#ol also (ao#

disa#ming the +olice

This is oe#sim+li("ing the issue: The

(i#st claim is not st#ong enough to

su++o#t the second claim:




What omen in he# #ight mind ould

su++o#t total e-ualit" ith men: @o

omen ants the #ight to go to a# o#the #ight to +a" alimon"

,e#sim+li(" the issue: E-ualit" does not

mean (o# ee#" situations>

Example Straw *an & wh$ fallacious




(a) 4egging the uestion (circularargument)

The claims in the +#emise is again d#an in

the conclusion:Aedundant

Ae+eating an issue Bgoing in ci#cles

The a#gument does not go an"he#e>

TPE 3 7 ,ther common 'allacies




E;am&le: -egging the >uestion = $h(

'allacious?

D" a#gument must 'e co##ect 'ecause

! am the sma#test student in the class:

The conclusion me#el" #estate the

+#emise: =eing sma#t does not mean

that "ou a#e co##ect:





'allacious?

Du#de#e#s should 'e e?ecuted

'ecause the" a#e kille#s>

The conclusion me#el" #estate the

+#emise: Du#de#e#s a#e kille#s '"

de(inition: So* hat is the ;usti(ication

h" kille#s must 'e e?ecuted$





'allacious?

The 'i'le is the o#d o( God 'ecause itsa"s it is:

Whethe# o# not the 'i'le is the o#d o( God is amatte# o( +e#sonal (aith: The statement should'e #itten as

The =i'le sa"s that it is the o#d o( God: The

o#d o( God cannot 'e (alse: The#e(o#e* the=i'le is the o#d o( God:




() 7liery slo (snowall argument'#omino theory)

Suggests to the listene# that i( one action is

taken* it ill lead to simila# actions the end#esult is negatie o# undesi#a'le

&ssumes a chain #eaction o( cause9e((ect o(

eents





E;am&le: sli&&er( slo&e = $h( 'allacious?

Let one student dis#u+t m" lectu#e*

then othe# students ould ant to ask

! the#e(o#e cannot com+lete m" lectu#e

in time:

Student3s inte##u+tions ma" dis#u+t a

lectu#e =)T not all lectu#es a#e dela"ed'ecause o( students dis#u+tions:




E;am&le = $h( 'allacious?

7#esident Aicha#d @i?on 9 We hae toin in ietnam o# the enti#e SE& ill

'ecome communist

Winning the ietnam a# might hae

saed ietnam (#om Communism =)T

not all communist state a#e de+endent

o( the success o( the ietnam Wa#:




(c) False #ilemma or lac- ' white

argument' either or

& limited num'e# o( o+inion is gien

hen in #ealit" the#e a#e mo#e o+tions

&n illegitimate use o# the o#d o#H





E;am&le o' alse ilemma -lack@$hite5 =

$h( 'allacious?

FSTD Loe it o# leae it:

Should hae 'een #itten as

,ne o( the a"s to e?cel in FSTD is to loethe li(e he#e: <ating it ould a((ect "ou#

studies and ma" #esult ith "ou haing toleae:





$h( 'allacious?

Sto+ smoking o# die "oung:

Fallacious 'ecause death can 'e

caused '" othe# (acto#s not ;ust '"smoking: Should hae 'een #itten as

,ne o( the a"s to aoid d"ing "oung is

to sto+ smoking as smoking might a((ect

one3s health:





$h( 'allacious?

Eithe# go to college o# (o#get a'out

getting a good ;o':

Fallacious 'ecause good ;o's a#e notde+endent on going to college alone:Should hae 'een #itten as

Going to college and getting a deg#ee isone means o( getting a good ;o':




(#) ?asty generali0ation

This is the chie( e##o# made '" man":

Lea+ing to a conclusion ithout ast#ong o# la#ge enough ;usti(ication:





E;am&le o' 8ast( generaliationFeminists hate men: Aamlah is a (eminist:

Aamlah hates men:! notice that m" (at (#iend is ;oll":

The#e(o#e all (at +eo+le a#e ;oll":

&ll +o+ sta#s a#e #ude: ! asked Elton Iohn(o# his autog#a+h at a #estau#ant and hetold me to get lost:

"ll the arguments are %ased on insufficient e#idence

& there fore are not #alid.




() 4ur#en of Proof (Aeal to ignorance)

7#emise !( something has not 'een +#oen as(alse* the claim must 'e t#ue:

Shi(ts the 'u#den the othe# +a#t" to +#oe ino#de# to make a claim:





E;am&le o' -urden o' &roo' = $h(

'allacious?

Since "ou cannot +#oo( that ghosts does note?ist* then the" do e?ist:

Since scientists cannot +#oo( that glo'ala#ming ill take +lace* it +#o'a'l" ont:

The ne e?+e#imental d#ug must 'e o#king'ecause not a single +atient has #etu#ned tocom+lain:




S9<<!A , !++!CIES

+, -allacies that appeal to emotions +total

7 Claims are made a&&eal to emotions rather

than reason "ppeal to -ear!-orce! Scare tactics or ad %aculum

"ppeal to /anit$!-latter$

"ppeal to 0um%ers! Belief!

Bandwagon!Peer pressure

"ppeal to Pit$ +"d misericordium




(") Fallacies that #istract (total $) 9 Claims made die#t attention (#om the

main issue

A# hominem (attac-'against the

erson)

@e# herring

7traw 5an





($) %ther common tyes (total &)

4egging the uestion (circulararguments)

7liery sloe (#omino theory)

False #ilemma (either or)

?asty generali0ation

4ur#en of roof




%0GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 12 Logical Fallacies

T(E E01

T(E E01




2dentif$ & explain the logical

fallac$ in the following

statements.

3")*204 UP




,. Could 2 recei#e an " for this class. 2f 2

don5t get an 5"5 2 won5t get the

scholarship that 2 appl$ for

1% !&&eal to 'ear@scare tactics

% !&&eal to num-ers @-and$agon@ &eer

&ressure3% Aedherring@smokescreen

4% !&&eal to &it(

B% Sli&&er( slo&e @ domino theor(6% egging the >uestion @ circular argument

D% 8ast( generaliation

, C i " f i f




This line o' reasoning is 'allacious

-ecause &it( does not ser/e as

e/idence 'or a claim

Fust to get a scholarshi& does not

.usti'( a &erson to -e gi/en an ! There are other criteria to -e considered

"ppeal to pit$

,. Could 2 recei#e an " for this class. 2f 2

don5t get an 5"5 2 won5t get the

scholarship that 2 appl$ for

6 Th i f il l




6. The women in m$ famil$ lo#e

%a%ies. "ll women lo#e %a%ies

1% !&&eal to num-ers @-and$agon@&eer

&ressure

% Aedherring@smokescreen

3% !&&eal to &it(4% !&&eal to 'ear @scare tactics @ad

-acculum

B% !d hominem6% egging the >uestion@circular argument


6 "ll i f il l



%%GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 12 Logical Fallacies

ault( logic un>uali'ied

! generaliation% This 'allac( is

committed $hen a &erson dra$s

a conclusion a-out a &o&ulation

-ased on a sam&le that is not

large enough

6. "ll women in m$ famil$ lo#e

%a%ies. "ll women lo#e %a%ies

(ast$ generali7ation

8 9 h ld :t t ti l




8. 9ou shouldn:t accept national

health care %ecause it is a socialist idea


&ressure

% Aedherring@smokescreen3% !&&eal to &it(

4% !&&eal to 'ear @scare tactics @ad

-acculum

B% !d hominem

6% egging the >uestion@circular argument




%.GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 12 Logical Fallacies

8. 9ou shouldn:t accept national

health care %ecause it is a socialist idea

)ed herring

S$itching to another issue to distract

'rom the main argument% This sort o'

reasoning is 'allacious -ecause

merel( changing the to&ic o'

discussion hardl( counts as an

argument against a claim%




. 2n a democrac$ the people are free

%ecause democracies are free countries.


&ressure

% Aedherring@smokescreen3% !&&eal to &it(

4% !&&eal to 'ear @scare tactics @ad

-acculum

B% !d hominem

6% egging the >uestion@circular argument





. 2n a democrac$ the people are free

%ecause democracies are free countries.

Begging the ;uestion

Circular argument

This sort o' reasoning is 'allacious -ecause

sim&l( assuming that the &remise is true does

not constitute e/idence 'or that conclusion%

emocrac( H 'ree countr( H 'ree &eo&le%

Circular argument $ith no end%

<. The gang mem%ers caught %$ the police last




g g g $ p

night comprises immigrants from countr$ =.

*ost immigrants who work in this countr$

ha#e trou%le with the law and come fromcountr$ = where thie#er$ are rampant.

1% Aedherring@smokescreen

% Sli&&er( slo&e@ domino theor(

3% Scare tactics @ad -acculum

4% !d hominem

B% egging the >uestion@circular argument

6% 8ast( generaliation

D% urden o' &roo'@!&&eal to ignorance

<. The gang mem%ers caught %$ the police last




(ast$ generali7ation

ault( logic un>uali'ied

Generaliation% <aking a .udgment -ased on a small

Sam&le%

g g g $ p

night comprises immigrants from countr$ =.

*ost immigrants who work in this countr$

ha#e trou%le with the law and come fromcountr$ = where thie#er$ are rampant.

>. )alph 0ader was the %est candidate





for president? %ecause he was totall$

%etter than an$ of the others.



3% Scare tactics @ad -acculum4% !d hominem


6% 8ast( generalisation






!ssum&tion 77 ader is -etter than the other

candidates) conclusion 77 ader is the -est%

This sort o' reasoning is 'allacious -ecause

sim&l( assuming that the conclusion is truedirectl( or indirectl(5 in the &remises does not

constitute e/idence 'or that conclusion%

Begging the ;uestion!

Circular argument


for president? %ecause he was totall$

%etter than an$ of the others.

@ 2f $ou don5t finish $our homework $ou




@. 2f $ou don5t finish $our homework $ou

won5t get a good grade. Then $ou won5t %e

a%le to get into the college $ou want. 9ouwill end up cleaning toilets for a li#ing.


% Sli&&er( slo&e@ domino theor(3% Scare tactics @ad -acculum

4% !d hominem




@ 2f $ou don5t finish $our homework $ou




"ppeal to fear !scare tactics

It is an a&&eal to 'orce or threat

instead o' tr(ing to con/ince

someone $ith 'acts or a logicalargument

@. 2f $ou don t finish $our homework $ou

won5t get a good grade. Then $ou won5t %e

a%le to get into the college $ou want. 9ouwill end up cleaning toilets for a li#ing.




A. (ow could an$one #ote for (ilar$ Clinton

for senatorThe fact that she is married to

Clinton pro#es that she has no self respect.



4% !d hominem




A




"d hominem

!ttacking the &erson rather than the issue% !d 8ominem

means against the man or against the &erson%

!d 8ominem is a 'allac( -ecause the character)

circumstances) or actions o' a &erson do not in mostcases5 ha/e a -earing on the truth o' the claim -eing made

or the >ualit( o' the argument -eing made5%

A. (ow could an$one #ote for (ilar$ Clinton

for senatorThe fact that she is married to

Clinton pro#es that she has no self respect.

U-D t i t % t %l t di




. U-D must exist %ecause no reputa%le studies

ha#e pro#en conclusi#el$ that the$ do not.



3% Scare tactics @ad -acculum4% !d hominem




U-D must exist %ecause no reputa%le studies




. U-D must exist %ecause no reputa%le studies

ha#e pro#en conclusi#el$ that the$ do not.

Causal fallac$

Shi'ts the -urden o' &roo' to the other

&art( in order to make a claim%

8o$e/er) no e/idence is gi/en to

&roo' that 9, do e;ist%

Burden of proof

, 2f $ou are %eautiful $ou could li#e like



.0GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 12 Logical Fallacies

,. 2f $ou are %eautiful? $ou could li#e like

this? so %u$ But$'EF and %ecome

%eautiful.



4% !d hominem


6% !&&eal to /anit(@'latter(


, 2f $ou are %eautiful $ou could li#e like




"ppeal to #anit$!flatter$

8ere the a&&eal is to -eauti'ul &eo&le%This line o' reasoning is 'allacious

-ecause the 'act that 'latter( does not)

in general) ser/e as e/idence that theclaim is true%

,. 2f $ou are %eautiful? $ou could li#e like

this? so %u$ But$'EF and %ecome

%eautiful.

,, State the fallac$ implied




,,. State the fallac$ implied

*$ friends uses Ginux %ecause it makes their




*$ friends uses Ginux %ecause it makes their

PC more powerful & sta%le. *$ friend uses

Ginux so must 2.

"ppeal to num%er !Bandwagon !

peer pressure

Im&lies something is right -ecause

e/er(-od( -elie/es so% This line o'

reasoning is 'allacious -ecause

&eer &ressure and threat o're.ection do not constitute e/idence 'or

re.ecting a claim

,6 3e can:t allow students an$ #oice in






4% !d hominem




,6. 3e can t allow students an$ #oice in

decision making? if we do? it wont %e long

%efore the$ are in total control

,6. 3e can:t allow students an$ #oice in



.%GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 12 Logical Fallacies

Slipper$ slope !domino theor$

o middle road is gi/en% !ssumes that

$hen the 'irst action is taken) it $ould

su-se>uentl( 'ollo$ through to the

last% Is this true?

,6. 3e can t allow students an$ #oice in

decision making? if we do? it wont %e long

%efore the$ are in total control

,8. 3omen need to %e either %rilliant or





% Sli&&er( slo&e@ domino theor(3% alse dilemma -lack or $hite@either7or5

4% !d hominem





%eautiful to sur#i#e in this world.




..GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills – Week 12 Logical Fallacies

-alse dilemma +%lack or white!

either – or

Include eitherJorJ % Fust gi/es t$oo&&osite e;tremes instead o' allo$ing

'or other &ossi-ilities% ot all $omen

$ho sur/i/e in this $orld are -rilliant

or -eauti'ul%


%eautiful to sur#i#e in this world.

,. Those who fa#or gun'control legislation





% Sli&&er( slo&e@ domino theor(3% alse dilemma -lack or $hite@either7or5

4% !d hominem


6% Stra$man o/ersim&li'ication5


,. Those who fa#or gun control legislation

Hust want to take all guns awa$ from

responsi%le citi7ens and put them into the

hands of the criminals.

,. Those who fa#or gun'control legislation



Strawman +o#ersimplification

misre&resent an o&&onentKs &osition to

make it easier to attack) usuall( -(

distorting his or her /ie$s to ridiculouse;tremes

,. Those who fa#or gun control legislation

Hust want to take all guns awa$ from

responsi%le citi7ens and put them into the

hands of the criminals.

Week Logical Fallacies

Documents

Transcript of Week Logical Fallacies