Difference between revisions of "Common fallacies"
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m (cat) |
(expanded definition) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | '''Common fallacies''' are arguments that persuade and fool people who: | + | '''Common fallacies''' are arguments that have a [[logical fallacy]] inherit in them, yet are still commonly accepted. These arguments persuade and fool people who: |
*have difficulties with abstract thinking | *have difficulties with abstract thinking | ||
Revision as of 16:16, January 17, 2009
Common fallacies are arguments that have a logical fallacy inherit in them, yet are still commonly accepted. These arguments persuade and fool people who:
- have difficulties with abstract thinking
- are young students, or are adults unwilling to reconsider opinions they formed as students
- exercise their free will to embrace fallacies without concern for whether they are flawed
Examples of common fallacies are:
- a theory should be accepted until a better alternative is found
- rates of recession or decay observed today are somehow constant for extrapolation backwards in time
- higher taxes must produce more revenue for the government
- fewer guns must reduce the rate of crime
- choice is somehow meaningful regardless of whether it is informed
- human thought can answer any question
(please add and improve)