******** REMINDERS ******** * A LOGICAL FALLACY is a mistake in reasoning that leads one to come to a fallacious conclusion. ============ two basic TYPES/categories of logical fallacies ============ * A FALLACY OF RELEVANCE is one where the arguer offers LOGICALLY IRRELEVANT reasons to support the conclusion. * This is covered in Chapter 5 of the text. * A FALLACY OF INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE is one where the premises may be relevant, but DON'T PROVIDE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE to support the conclusion. * This is covered in Chapter 6 of the text. ******** end of REMINDERS ******** * now, here are a few MORE logical fallacies of insufficient evidence: ------------ False Alternatives ------------ * An arguer poses a simple, yet false, either-or choice * sometimes these are stated in if-then terms, also ------------ Loaded Questions ------------ * A question (or statement) that contains an unfair or questionable assumption, no matter what the response * often, cramming several questions into that one loaded question; * how can one respond? ...it helps to distinguish between the actual embedded questions and respond to each individually, NOT starting with "Yes" or "No"... since a loaded question is complex, (containing multiple embedded questions), it needs a complex response; or if necessary, a calm "That's a loaded question. ..." ------------ Questionable Cause ------------ * attributing something as being the cause of something else without sufficient evidence * THREE types of Questionable Cause: * Post Hoc Fallacy * Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc – "AFTER the thing, therefore BECAUSE of the thing" * B happened AFTER A, so A must've CAUSED B to happen * Correlation Fallacy * A and B (regularly/frequently) OCCUR TOGETHER, so A CAUSES B" (or B CAUSES A) * Correlation is NOT equal to Causation !!! * A very humorous Correlation Fallacy Website: http://www.tylervigen.com/spurious-correlations * Oversimplified Cause Fallacy * Claiming that "A causes B" when in fact, B may occur for any of several different reasons ------------ Hasty Generalization ------------ * Claiming something is true of an entire group after only a few examples * (similar to stereotyping) * we commit this fallacy when we draw a GENERAL conclusion from a sample that is BIASED or TOO SMALL ------------ Slippery Slope ------------ * Claiming, **without sufficient evidence**, that a seemingly harmless or mild action will lead, if continued, to a harmful or disastrous outcome. * "This is just the first (or next) step down a path that will lead to horrific consequences!" * DirecTV commercial -- Don't end up in a roadside ditch! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpwlh1yl054 ------------ Weak Analogy ------------ * The claim in which an arguer compares two or more things that aren't really comparable in relevant respects. ------------ Inconsistency ------------ * Making two or more statements within the same argument (or similar arguments) that cannot both simultaneously be true or have an innate contradiction