Difference between revisions of "Common fallacies"
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("wishful thinking" is covered in the intro, and is not a "common fallacy"; guilt-by-association is not taught is not common) |
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*Ad Hominem: arguments that focus on irrelevant personal attributes of an opponent, hoping to divert attention from the issue being discussed or the content of an opponents argument. | *Ad Hominem: arguments that focus on irrelevant personal attributes of an opponent, hoping to divert attention from the issue being discussed or the content of an opponents argument. | ||
*Appeal to Misleading Authority: When a person believes a claim to be true simply because an "authority" says so, when that "authority" is not actually an authority on the subject at hand. For example if somebody believes a claim about chemistry to be true simply because a psychologist says it is true. What constitutes an authority is debatable. | *Appeal to Misleading Authority: When a person believes a claim to be true simply because an "authority" says so, when that "authority" is not actually an authority on the subject at hand. For example if somebody believes a claim about chemistry to be true simply because a psychologist says it is true. What constitutes an authority is debatable. | ||
| − | + | *That a woman can get pregnant without having [[sex]]. | |
(please add and improve) | (please add and improve) | ||
http://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Common_fallacies&action=edit | http://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Common_fallacies&action=edit | ||
[[Category:Logical Fallacies]] | [[Category:Logical Fallacies]] | ||
Revision as of 19:09, January 17, 2009
Common fallacies are arguments that have a logical fallacy inherent in them, yet are still commonly accepted by 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, decay or growth 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
- loaded questions: embodies an assumption that, if answered, indicates an implied agreement. (e.g., Have you stopped beating your wife yet?)
- Ad Hominem: arguments that focus on irrelevant personal attributes of an opponent, hoping to divert attention from the issue being discussed or the content of an opponents argument.
- Appeal to Misleading Authority: When a person believes a claim to be true simply because an "authority" says so, when that "authority" is not actually an authority on the subject at hand. For example if somebody believes a claim about chemistry to be true simply because a psychologist says it is true. What constitutes an authority is debatable.
- That a woman can get pregnant without having sex.
(please add and improve) http://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Common_fallacies&action=edit