Symbolic and Critical Reasoning - IAP 101
Are There Any Fallacies in the Reasoning? Pt. 2
Your Papers
-you will be allowed a rewrite for extra credit -you can earn up to half the points you missed th -Due date August 4
The Critical Questions!!!
1. What are the Issue and the Conclusion? 2. What are the Reasons? 3. What Words or Phrases are Ambiguous? 4. What are the Value Conflicts and Assumptions? 5. What are the Descriptive Assumptions? 6. Are There Any Fallacies in the Reasoning?
Fallacies
A fallacy is a reasoning trick (or error) that an author might use while trying to persuade you to accept a conclusion. Ad Hominem Slippery Slope Equivocation Appeal to Emotion Straw Man Appeal to Questionable Authority Either-Or Fallacy (False Dilemma)
Fallacies Cont.
Identify the conclusion and the reasons If the conclusion supports an action (is perscriptive),
do the reasons give a specific or concrete advantage for that action?
Identify assumptions what do you have to believe
for the reason to logically support the action? What do you have to believe for the reason to be true?
Don't be distracted by emotions Ask: Is it relevant?
Chauncey: I dont see why you are so against permitting beer to be sold at the Payap International Student Union. After all, a survey of our students shows that 80% are in favor of the proposal. Whats wrong with this? Chauncey: I dont see why you are so against permitting beer to be sold at the Payap International Student Union. After all, a survey of our students shows that 80% are in favor of the proposal.
Appeal to Popularity
Assumes that anything favored by a large group is desirable. Chauncey: I dont see why you are so against permitting beer to be sold at the Payap International Student Union. After all, a survey of our students shows that 80% are in favor of the proposal. Just because its popular doesnt mean its the best option!
Jo: The mayor's crackdown on crime has been unsuccessful. Wendy: How can you say that? I was just reading the newspaper and statistics show that crime has gone down. Jo: sure, but there are still way too many criminals.
What's wrong with this?
Falsely assuming that because part of a problem would remain after a solution is tried, the solution should not be adopted. Jo: The mayor's crackdown on crime has been unsuccessful. Wendy: How can you say that? I was just reading the newspaper and statistics show that crime has gone down. Jo: sure, but there are still way too many criminals.
Searching for a Perfect Solution
Student: We shouldn't need to have rules in the dormitories. Rules take away students' freedom. Students should be able to make their own choices and act responsibly without rules and punishments.
Anything wrong with this?
Wishful Thinking
Making the faulty assumption that because we wish X were true or false, then X is indeed true or false. Student: We shouldn't need to have rules in the dormitories. Rules take away students' freedom. Students should be able to make their own choices and act responsibly without rules and punishments.
Helen: Why did the Nazis do such terrible things to people? George: Because they were racist.
Anything wrong here?
Explaining by Naming
Falsely assuming that because you have provided a name for some event or behavior that you have also adequately explained the event.
Helen: Why did the Nazis do such terrible things to people? George: Because they were racist.
Glittering Generality
The use of vague, emotionally appealing virtue words that dispose us to approve something without closely examining the reasons Example: We must have tax reform. The poor of this country have borne the brunt of the tax burden long enough. - Diversion Notice No specifics Opposite of name-calling/ad hominem
Betty: You say that living on campus will help students study more. I don't see how. If they are surrounded by their peers all they will want to do is party. Kyle: Yes, that may be true for a while. But there will be more opportunities for them to learn and help each other study and that will have a good effect. Betty: You're just being idealistic. It's you idealists who are responsible for so many of the problems in the world. Kyle: That's not true! I believe idealists are responsible for most of the good things in the world.
Red Herring
An irrelevant topic is presented to divert attention away from the argument and to another issue. Topic A is being discussed. Topic B is introduced as though it is relevant to topic A but it is not and Topic A is abandoned.
Harrison's books about business management are used throughout the world because he is an authority on business management. No one can deny that he is a significant authority on business management. We know that he is a significant authority because his books are used throughout the world.
Begging the Question
An argument in which the conclusion is assumed in the reasoning. (Circular Reasoning) Harrison's books about business management are used throughout the world because he is an authority on business management. No one can deny that he is a significant authority on business management. We know that he is a significant authority because his books are used throughout the world. Statement B is true because statement A is true. Statement A is true because statement B is true. Therefore statement A is true.
In Class Reflection
What are three situations in which fallacies are commonly used in life? Why are they used?
Homework
Read Chapter 8 from Asking the Right Questions
