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What is the name of the fallacy where the same term is used with different meanings at different times within an argument?
The fallacy of equivocation occurs when a key term or phrase in an argument is used in an ambiguous way, with one meaning in one portion of the argument and then another meaning in another portion of the argument. Examples: I have the right to watch “The Real World.” Therefore it’s right for me to watch the show.
What is tautological fallacy?
The fallacy of using a definition that seems to be sharp and crisp, but is in fact tautological (but this is hidden, mostly unintentionally). The problem: the point at which a definition that was useful and very sharply defined becomes tautological is often not easily seen.
What is a strawman fallacy?
This fallacy occurs when, in attempting to refute another person’s argument, you address only a weak or distorted version of it. Straw person is the misrepresentation of an opponent’s position or a competitor’s product to tout one’s own argument or product as superior.
What is dogmatism fallacy?
Dogmatism shuts down discussion by asserting that the writer’s beliefs are the only acceptable ones. Example: I’m sorry, but I think penguins are sea creatures and that’s that.
What is another name for equivocation fallacy?
Equivocation is a fallacy by which a specific word or phrase in an argument is used with more than one meaning. It’s also known as semantic equivocation.
What is fallacy of Amphiboly?
The fallacy of amphiboly happens when someone uses grammar or punctuation in a way that a statement could be interpreted as having more than one meaning, so it is unclear what is really meant. Other names for the fallacy are the fallacy of ambiguity, misusing ambiguity, and the fallacy of unclearness.
What is Steelman?
A steel man is the practice of making someone’s argument stronger. This is the opposite of a straw man whereby you misrepresent your opponent’s position as being absurd or weak before offering a rebuttal.
What is a non sequitur?
Definition of non sequitur
2 : a statement (such as a response) that does not follow logically from or is not clearly related to anything previously said We were talking about the new restaurant when she threw in some non sequitur about her dog.
What is an example of non sequitur?
non sequitur Add to list Share. A non sequitur is a conclusion or reply that doesn’t follow logically from the previous statement. You’ve probably heard an example of a non sequitur before, therefore bunny rabbits are way cuter than chipmunks.
What is fallacy of ambiguity?
A fallacy of ambiguity is a flaw of logic, where the meaning of a statement is not entirely clear. This can create statements which are both compelling and incorrect, either by accident or by design. Unfortunate phrasing is often responsible for unintentional humor.
What is the false analogy fallacy?
a type of informal fallacy or a persuasive technique in which the fact that two things are alike in one respect leads to the invalid conclusion that they must be alike in some other respect.
What is division fallacy?
A fallacy of division is an informal fallacy that occurs when one reasons that something that is true for a whole must also be true of all or some of its parts. An example: The second grade in Jefferson elementary eats a lot of ice cream.
What is proof surrogate?
5 Proof surrogate. A proof surrogate offers no real support, but just claims that support exists. Examples are using “studies show” without saying what those studies are and where they can be found. Another proof surrogate is just to say that “It’s obvious that….” Doing so implies that proof is simply not needed.
What are some examples of ad hominem?
Ad Hominem Examples
- A politician arguing that his opponent cannot possibly be a good choice for women because he has a religious conviction that causes him to be pro-life.
- A lawyer who argues that his client should not be held responsible for theft because he is poor.
What is a slippery slope fallacy?
slippery slope argument, in logic, the fallacy of arguing that a certain course of action is undesirable or that a certain proposition is implausible because it leads to an undesirable or implausible conclusion via a series of tenuously connected premises, each of which is understood to lead, causally or logically, to …
What is the hasty generalization fallacy?
The hasty generalization fallacy is sometimes called the over-generalization fallacy. It is basically making a claim based on evidence that it just too small. Essentially, you can’t make a claim and say that something is true if you have only an example or two as evidence.
What is the meaning of ad Populum?
Appeal to Popularity
Appeal to Popularity (Ad Populum) Appeal to Popularity (Ad Populum) Description: The argument supports a position by appealing to the shared opinion of a large group of people, e.g. the majority, the general public, etc.
Why is post hoc a fallacy?
Why is post hoc a fallacy? Post hoc is a fallacy because it suggests that one event happening before another necessarily means that the first event caused the second.
What is an example of post hoc fallacy?
The fallacy lies in a conclusion based solely on the order of events, rather than taking into account other factors potentially responsible for the result that might rule out the connection. A simple example is “the rooster crows immediately before sunrise; therefore the rooster causes the sun to rise.”
What is an example of a false dichotomy?
The terms “false dilemma” and “false dichotomy” are often used interchangeably. Example: You can either get married or be alone for the rest of your life. False dichotomies are related to false dilemmas because they both prompt listeners to choose between two unrelated options.
What does ergo propter hoc means?
after this, therefore because of this
Definition of post hoc, ergo propter hoc
: after this, therefore because of this : because an event occurred first, it must have caused this later event —used to describe a fallacious argument.