Download Argument and Fallacies

Argument and
Fallacies
OBJ. III-1
Argument and Fallacy
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An argument often presents opinions that have a positive or
negative slant
An advertisement tries to persuade you to purchase a product
such as a car or a service such as trash collection
An editorial presents a viewpoint on a controversial issue such
as violence on television or raising the speed limits
A valid argument contains good logic, solid evidence, or clear
reasons and examples form the reading selection
A fallacy or false argument contains poor logic, weak evidence,
or faulty reasons and examples from the reading selection
Tips for Analyzing an Argument
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Identify the opinion or viewpoint on the issue.
It will generally appear near the beginning of the
selection, but it may also appear at the end as a
conclusion
Read the supporting reasons for the opinion
Decide whether the reasons or examples
support the argument
Main Types of Fallacies
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Jumping to Conclusions is a claim with little proof to support it
(Ford is the best!)
Ad Hominem is attacking the person rather than his or her ideas
(Bill dresses like a nerd!)
Circular Argument is when part of an argument is used as
evidence to support it (Looks are more important than talent
because looks mean everything)
Testimonial is when famous persons endorse a product, even
though they aren’t experts (Bill Cosby loves Jell-O)
Either-Or Fallacy is when there are only two sides to an issue
(this or that)
More Fallacies
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Post Hoc Fallacy: The assumption that because one thing
happens before another, that one thing causes the other.
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The classic story is of the arrogant rooster who brags to the hens that he
crows, causing the morning sun to rise. One old biddy who has been
around the barnyard block challenges him. "Stay quiet tomorrow," she
taunts, "and see if the morning stays dark." Poor old master rooster has
to leave in disgrace the next day when the sun shines bright as ever
without his cock-o-doodle-doo.
False Authority: A rock star is not an expert on the right kind
of car to buy no matter how good he or she may look behind
the wheel. Also, a criminal is not an expert on the causes of
crime. An expert is one who has broad and creditable knowledge
of the subject due to study expertise in the field under
discussion.
Fallacies Continued
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Part/Whole: Proving part of an argument wrong does not
necessarily discredit the entire list. Proving part of an argument
valid does not validate the entire argument. If a woman can run
100 yards in 10 seconds, then she should run 1000 yards in 100
seconds?
Rationalization: A fuzzy thinker can convince himself that an
unpleasant outcome was due to uncontrollable external
circumstances: "I rushed the paper and got an F, but it was
because that teacher doesn't like me."
Red Herring: Originally, a strong-smelling fish was used to fool
a bloodhound by dragging the herring across the trail of scent.
Some arguments can throw such distractions into the discussion
and completely disrupt the course of the argument.
Reasoning
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INDUCTIVE REASONING is the process of reasoning that a general
principle is true because
the special cases you’ve seen are true
DEDUCTIVE REASONING is the process of concluding something must
be true because it is
a special case of a general principle that is know to be true.
Examples:
Deductive reasoning:
All basketball players are tall.
John is a basketball player.
John is tall.
Inductive reasoning:
John is a senior.
John is a good student.
All seniors are good students.