11amEng 102 Appendix Fallacies

7/29/2019 11amEng 102 Appendix Fallacies

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ENG 102

Appendix Fallacies


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Informal Fallacies

Argument whose stated premises fail to support

its proposed conclusion

Often stems from a flaw in reasoning that

renders the conclusion unpersuasive


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Fallacies of Pathos

Rest on flaws in the way an argument appeals tothe audiences emotions and values

Argument to the people (stirring symbols)

Appeal to ignorance

Bandwagon

Appeal to pity

Red herring


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Fallacies of Ethos

Rest on flaws in the way the argument appeals tothe character of opponents or of sources andwitnesses within an argument

Appeal to false authority

Ad hominem

Poisoning the well

Straw man


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Fallacies of Logos

Rests on flaws in the relationship among statements in anargument Hasty generalization

Part for the whole

Post hoc

Circular reasoning/begging the question

False Dilemma

Slippery Slope

False analogy

Son sequitur

Loaded Label/Definition


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Slippery Slope (Logos)

Based on the fear that once we put a foot on a

slick mountainside, we are doomed to slide right

out of sight

Once we allow medical use of marijuana, well

eventually legalize it for everyone, and then

cocaine and heroin will gain social acceptance.


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Red Herring (Pathos)

Throwing an audience off-track by raising an

unrelated or irrelevant point

Debating a gas tax increase is valuable, but I

really think there should be an extra tax on SUVs.


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Non Sequitur (Logos)

Means it does not follow

Any claim that doesnt follow from its premises

or is supported by irrelevant premises

I should not receive a C in this course because I

currently have a 3.8 GPA


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Post hoc (Logos)

Means after this, therefore because of this

Occurs when a sequential relationship is

mistaken for a causal relationship

Cramming for a test really helps because last

week I crammed for my psychology test and I got

an A on it.

A might have been caused by something otherthan cramming, must consider all factors


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Bandwagon (Pathos)

Appeals to popularity

Popularity of something is irrelevant to its actual

marriage

Living together before marriage is the right thing

to do because most couples are now doing it.


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Ad hominem (Ethos)

Means to the person

Argument directed at the character of an

opponent rather than at the quality of the

opponents reasoning


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False Authority (Ethos)

Use famous people to testify on issues about

which these persons have no special competence

Joe Quarterback says Gooey Oil keeps his old

tractor running sharp; therefore, Gooey Oil is agood oil.


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Hasty Generalization (Logos)

Someone makes a broad generalization on the

basis of too little evidence

Evidence needed to support a generalization

must meet the STAR criteria (sufficiency,typicality, accuracy, and relevance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXLTQi7vVsI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXLTQi7vVsIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXLTQi7vVsI


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Appeal to the People (Pathos)

Appeal to the fundamental beliefs, biases, and

prejudices of the audience

Sway opinion through a feeling of solidarity

among those of the group

Support Our Troops bumper sticker, often

including American flag, creates an initial feeling

of solidarity among almost all citizens ofgoodwill

Car owner may have deeper intention of

meaning support the war


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Appeal to Ignorance (Pathos)

Persuades audience to accept as true a claim that

hasnt been proved false or vice versa

UFOs, ghosts, and the abominable snowmen do

exist because science hasnt proved that they

dont exist.


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Appeal to Pity (Pathos)

Arguer appeals to audiences sympathetic

feelings in order to support a claim that should

be decided on more relevant or objective grounds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MiZ8i_Ra4M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MiZ8i_Ra4Mhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MiZ8i_Ra4M


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Poisoning the Well (Ethos)

Close to ad hominem

Arguers discredit an opponent or an opposing

view in advance (through bias)

Before I yield the floor to the next speaker, I must

remind you that those who oppose my plan do

not have the best interests of working people in

their hearts.


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Straw Man (Ethos)

Occurs by oversimplifying an opponents

argument to make it easier to refute or ridicule

Rather than summarize opposing view fairly and

completely, the arguer makes up the argumentthey wish the opponent had made because its

easier to knock over

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjOrOMVFCbs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjOrOMVFCbshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjOrOMVFCbshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjOrOMVFCbs


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Part for the Whole (Logos)

Arguers pick out a part of the whole and then

claim that what is true of the part is true for the

whole

Arguer picks only the best examples to make acase and conveniently forgets about examples

that weaken the case


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Circular Reasoning (Logos)

Provide a reason that simply restates the claim in

different words

That person is obese because he is too fat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CVbku6nxhU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CVbku6nxhUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CVbku6nxhU


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False Dilemma (Logos)

arguer oversimplifies a complex issue so that

only two choices appear possible

One of the choices is made to seem unacceptable

Its my way or the highway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dln3DJEcghY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dln3DJEcghYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dln3DJEcghY


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False Analogy (Logos)

Has to be some similarities between objects being

compared

Has to appeal to audiences logic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8LydU2P7Yw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8LydU2P7Ywhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8LydU2P7Yw


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WHICH FALLACY IS BEING COMMITTED?

Read each item. Identify and explain the fallacy of

each statement.

Activity pg. 411


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For Friday

Read Ramage Chapter 11 and answer thefollowing questions:

1. What is a definition argument?

2. Explain the criteria-match structure.3. How do you conduct the definition part of a

definition argument?

4. How do you conduct the criteria part of a

definition argument?

5. How do you conduct the match part of adefinition argument?

Documents

11amEng 102 Appendix Fallacies