FALLACY

A 'fallacy' is a component of an argument that is demonstrably flawed in its logic or form, thus rendering the argument invalid in whole.
In logical arguments, fallacies are either ''formal'' or ''informal.'' Because the validity of a deductive argument depends on its form, a 'formal fallacy' is a deductive argument that has an invalid form, whereas an 'informal fallacy' is any other invalid mode of reasoning whose flaw is not in the form of the argument.
Beginning with Aristotle, informal fallacies have generally been placed in one of several categories, depending on the source of the fallacy. There are fallacies of relevance, fallacies involving causal reasoning, and fallacies resulting from ambiguities.
Recognizing fallacies in actual arguments may be difficult since arguments are often structured using rhetorical patterns that obscure the logical connections between assertions. Fallacies may also exploit the emotional or intellectual weaknesses of the interlocutor. Having the capability of recognizing logical fallacies in arguments reduces the likelihood of such an occurrence. [However, if you do recognize and point this out to your opponent, and if they are looking to 'win at all cost' and not interested in working toward a resolution of the problem, they most likely would rely on a raised tone of voice to try to extend their position, or they would attempt to ‘Muddy the Water’ with additional non-sequiturs. You will get blue in the face attempting to point out the inconsistency of such an illogical argument.]
A different approach to understanding and classifying fallacies is provided by argumentation theory; see for instance the ''van Eemeren, Grootendorst'' reference below. In this approach, an argument is regarded as an interactive protocol between individuals which attempts to resolve a disagreement. The protocol is regulated by certain rules of interaction and violations of these rules are fallacies. Many of the fallacies in the list below are best understood as being fallacies in this sense.

Contents

Types of fallacies

See also

References

External links

Types of fallacies

Main articles: List of fallacies

See also

★ Ad hominem

★ Attacking Faulty Reasoning

★ Validity

References

★ Aristotle, On Sophistical Refutations, ''De Sophistici Elenchi''.

★ William of Ockham, ''Summa of Logic'' (ca. 1323) Part III.4.

★ John Buridan, ''Summulae de dialectica'' Book VII.

★ Francis Bacon, the doctrine of the idols in ''Novum Organum Scientiarum'', Aphorisms concerning The Interpretation of Nature and the Kingdom of Man, XXIIIff.

★ The Art of Controversy | ''Die Kunst, Recht zu behalten - The Art Of Controversy'' (bilingual), by Arthur Schopenhauer (also known as "Schopenhauers 38 stratagems")

★ John Stuart Mill, A System of Logic - Raciocinative and Inductive. Book 5, Chapter 7, Fallacies of Confusion.

★ C. L. Hamblin, ''Fallacies''. Methuen London, 1970.

★ Fearnside, W. Ward and William B. Holther, Fallacy: The Counterfeit of Argument, 1959.

★ Vincent F. Hendricks, ''Thought 2 Talk: A Crash Course in Reflection and Expression'', New York: Automatic Press / VIP, 2005, ISBN 87-991013-7-8

★ D. H. Fischer, ''Historians' Fallacies: Toward a Logic of Historical Thought'', Harper Torchbooks, 1970.

★ Douglas N. Walton, ''Informal logic: A handbook for critical argumentation''. Cambridge University Press, 1989.

★ F. H. van Eemeren and R. Grootendorst, ''Argumentation, Communication and Fallacies: A Pragma-Dialectical Perspective'', Lawrence Erlbaum and Associates, 1992.

★ Warburton Nigel, ''Thinking from A to Z'', Routledge 1998.

★ T. Edward Damer. Attacking Faulty Reasoning, 5th Edition, Wadsworth, 2005. ISBN 0-534-60516-8

★ Sagan, Carl, "''The Demon-Haunted World: Science As a Candle in the Dark''". Ballantine Books, March 1997 ISBN 0-345-40946-9, 480 pgs. 1996 hardback edition: Random House, ISBN 0-394-53512-X, xv+457 pages plus addenda insert (some printings). Ch.12.

External links

★ Logical Fallacies-a semi ordered list with definitions

★ The Fallacy Files by Gary N. Curtis - real examples posted regularly.

★ Fallacies - ESGS. Europeean Society for General Semantics

★ Logical Fallacies .Info

★ Bruce Thompson's Fallacy Page

★ Stephen Downes Guide to the Logical Fallacies

★ Logical Fallacies and the Art of Debate

★ Logical Fallacies QuizTen common fallicies in an interactive test format.

★ 42 informal logical fallacies explained by Dr. Michael C. Labossiere, including examples.

★ How to spot a bad argument - entertaining description of logical fallacies.

★ On Informal Fallacies is a collection of one-off fallacies coined for specific, rhetorical purposes.

★ The Non Sequitur explores fallacious reasoning in the American political media.

★ List of fallacies with easy to understand examples.

★ Tutorials on fallacies from Critical Thinking Web

★ Logical Fallacies Quiz