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Fallacies: An Introduction Define fallacy Classifications of fallacies Valid vs. Sound arguments Important notes What is a fallacy? A mistake in reasoning An incorrect argument in logic and rhetoric lack of validity or lack of soundness A fallacious argument is an argument that contains a mistake in reasoning Remember Logic? Syllogism: a systematic arrangement of arguments, consisting of: Categorical Disjunctive Conditional a major premise Every A is a B. Either A or B. If A is C. a minor premise Every C is A. Not A. And C is B. Therefore, B. Then A is B. a conclusion Therefore: Every C is B. Enthymeme: A truncated syllogism where one or more of the premises is implied. major premise minor premise conclusion major premise minor premise conclusion major premise minor premise conclusion major premise minor premise conclusion An enthymeme calls upon the audience’s existing beliefs for one or both of its premises. Fallacy Classifications Reasoning Deductive General conclusion Specific cases Inductive Specific cases General conclusion Formality Formal Error in structure (form) Septuagenarians are people in their seventies. Informal Error in content If A is C. And D is B. Then A is B. My mother is in her seventies. Thus, my mother is a septuagenarian. Difference between: Valid arguments: refers to “form” Sound arguments: must meet all of the following criteria: The premise(s) of the argument must be true The conclusion must follow from the premises The content of the argument must be free of fallacies Remember: An argument containing a fallacy may still be correct -- by chance! Students who come to class usually do well in my class. Your attendance is poor in my class. Therefore, you must not be doing well in my class. Important Notes Who can commit a fallacy? Speakers / Senders Listeners / Receivers Fallacies can be intentional or unintentional Names of fallacies may differ It is not enough to be able to name the fallacy It is important that you be able to explain why an argument is fallacious Fallacies can overlap Processing Time! What is a fallacy? What does formal logic have to do with fallacies? Is a valid argument necessarily true? Or a sound argument?