Unit 6 Seminar

1
Unit 6 Seminar

• Ambiguity and Faulty Reasoning

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Ambiguity and Faulty Reasoning

• The fallacies we will discuss tonight are largely
  able to be classified as fallacies of ambiguity.
  In other words, they occur when words are used
  with distinct meanings in the same argument,
  premises are repeated, etc.

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Begging the Question

• Begging the question is committed whenever the
  arguer creates the illusion that inadequate
  premises provide adequate support for the
  conclusion by leaving out a key premise, by
  restating the conclusion as a premise, or by
  reasoning in a circle.

4
Equivocation

• Equivocation occurs when the conclusion of an
  argument depends on the fact that a word or
  phrase is used, either explicitly or implicitly,
  in two different senses within a single argument.

5
Loaded Language

• Loaded language occurs when a term or terms known
  to have negative or positive connotations are
  deliberately placed in an argument to evoke favor
  toward your conclusion.

6
False Analogy

• This fallacy occurs when the conclusion of an
  argument depends on an analogy (or similarity)
  that is not strong enough to support the
  conclusion.
• From discussion
• Both marijuana and alcohol can be dangerous. So,
  both should be illegal.

7
Rationalization

• A rationalization fallacy is an attempt to make
  it appear that reason is being used when in
  actuality excuses are being made.

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Slippery Slope

• The slippery slope fallacy occurs when the
  conclusion of an argument rests on an alleged
  chain reaction, and there is not sufficient
  reason to think that the chain reaction will
  actually occur.

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Reductio ad absurdum

• The reductio occurs when we take an opponents
  view and show that if followed to its logical
  conclusion is absurd or leads to absurd
  consequences.
• Or, you can try to prove your point by assuming
  the opposite of your point and showing that it
  leads to absurdity to a contradictory or silly
  result.

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• Name that Fallacy

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• Attempts to outlaw pornography threaten basic
  civil rights and should be abandoned. If it is
  outlawed then censorship or newspapers is only a
  short step away.
• A. Begging the Question
• B. Slippery Slope
• C. Reductio
• D. False Cause

12

• The amount of television that children view
  daily has increased over the last 25 years.
  During this time standardized test scores for
  children have dropped. Obviously, television is
  making our kids intellectually lazy.
• A. Hasty Generalization
• B. Appeal to ignorance
• C. False Cause
• D. Card Stacking
• E. No Fallacy

13

• When a car breaks down so often that repairs
  become pointless, the car is thrown in the junk.
  Similarly, when a person becomes old and
  diseased, he or she should be mercifully put to
  death.
• A. False cause
• B. Rationalization
• C. Ad baculum
• D. Weak analogy

14

• Mikes car is light blue, has leather
  upholstery, and gets great gas mileage. Bills
  car also is light blue and has leather
  upholstery. Therefore, it must get great gas
  mileage.
• A. False analogy
• B. False Cause
• C. Strawman
• D. Circular Reasoning

15

• Your honor it is true that I abused my children,
  but I was abused myself. It is understandable
  that I abused them.
• A. Ad baculum
• B. Rationalization
• C. Weak analogy
• D. False Cause

16

• Of course you should vote for Strickland!
  Everyone here in the department is voting for
  Strickland.
• A. False Cause
• B. Weak analogy
• C. Ad populum
• D. Loaded Language
• E. No fallacy

17

• Have you stopped drinking excessively yet?
• A. Ad hominem
• B. False Cause
• C. Weak analogy
• D. Loaded Language

18

• Islamic fundamentalists stormed cites in India,
  killing and holding people hostage. The message
  is clear All Muslims are religious fanatics
  prone to violence.
• A. Card Stacking
• B. Hasty Generalization
• C. Ad Ignorantium
• D. Ad Nauseum
• E. No Fallacy

19

• The Book of Mormon is true because it was
  written by Joseph Smith. Smith wrote the truth
  because he was divinely inspired. We know he was
  divinely inspired because the Book of Mormon says
  so.
• A. Reductio
• B. False Analogy
• C. Begging the Question
• D. False Cause

20

• California condors are rapidly disappearing.
  This bird is a California condor. Therefore,
  this bird should disappear any minute now.
• A. Equivocation
• B. Begging the Question
• C. False Cause
• D. No fallacy

21

• Evangelical make up a significant voting bloc.
  However, this shouldnt be tolerated. Religious
  extremists have no place voting in a deliberative
  democracy.
• A. Loaded Language
• B. Weak analogy
• C. False cause
• D. Ad hominem

22

• If we extend the North Atlantic Free Trade
  Agreement, the governments of Central and South
  America will demand that we buy their goods and
  hire their nationals in our factories. Soon,
  American industry will be unable to compete. Then
  our national sovereignty will erode as we become
  progressively poorer and other countries in our
  hemisphere become progressively richer.
• A. Strawman
• B. Rationalization
• C. Weak analogy
• D. Slippery Slope

23

• Domestic terrorism is on the rise. Apparently
  those right-wing radio talk shows are starting to
  bear fruit.
• A. Stawman
• B. Weak Analogy
• C. Begging the Question
• D. Equivocation