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Understanding Arguments and Fallacies

This document discusses things to consider when looking at arguments and opinions. It provides examples of common fallacies in arguments, including ad hominem (attacking the person making the argument), appeal to force (using threats to advance an argument), appeal to emotion, appeal to popularity, appeal to tradition, begging the question (circular reasoning), false cause-and-effect, fallacy of composition (assuming parts represent the whole), and fallacy of division (assuming the whole applies to parts).

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Pia G
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1K views11 pages

Understanding Arguments and Fallacies

This document discusses things to consider when looking at arguments and opinions. It provides examples of common fallacies in arguments, including ad hominem (attacking the person making the argument), appeal to force (using threats to advance an argument), appeal to emotion, appeal to popularity, appeal to tradition, begging the question (circular reasoning), false cause-and-effect, fallacy of composition (assuming parts represent the whole), and fallacy of division (assuming the whole applies to parts).

Uploaded by

Pia G
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Introduction
  • Argument and Fallacy
  • Ad hominem
  • Appeal to force
  • Appeal to emotion
  • Appeal to the popular
  • Appeal to the tradition
  • Begging the question
  • Cause-and-effect
  • Fallacy of composition
  • Fallacy of division

THINGS TO CONSIDER

WHEN LOOKING AT
ARGUMENTS OR
OPINIONS
Argument and Fallacy
Arguments often take the form of statements that are
either claims of facts and are phrased in such a way that
they seem reasonable. However, a number of arguments
may be based on faulty reasoning. These are called
fallacies.
The following are examples of fallacies.
Ad hominem
Characteristic Example

Attacking the person “Of course he believes


presenting the argument that the government is
instead of the argument flawed, he is a rebel
itself and a Communist!”
Appeal to force
Characteristic Example

Using the threat of force “If this peace agreement


or an undesirable event will not be signed by the
government, then we will
to advance an argument have no recourse but to
go to war.”
Appeal to emotion
Characteristic Example

Using emotions such as “All these charges are


pity or sympathy baseless; this is just plain
harassment – can’t you
see how this is affecting
my family?”
Appeal to the
popular
Characteristic Example

The idea is presented as “Every boy your age


acceptable because a already has a girlfriend,
lot of people accept it. you should go find one!”
Appeal to the
tradition
Characteristic Example

The idea is acceptable “Marriage should be


between a man and a
because it had been woman. It had been so for
true for a long time. a long time in this
country; it should remain
so today and in the
future.”
Begging the question
Characteristic Example

Assuming the thing or “I have a right to free


idea to be proven is speech, therefore you
true; also known as cannot stop me from
“circular argument” talking.”
Cause-and-effect
Characteristic Example

Assuming a “cause-and- “Ever since you bought


effect” relationship that sweater, everything
between unrelated has been going wrong in
events your life. You should get
rid of it.”
Fallacy of
composition
Characteristic Example

Assuming that what is “These cases of robbery


true of a part is true for in this district have
the whole convinced me that the
city has become a den of
thieves and criminals.”
Fallacy of division
Characteristic Example

Assuming that what is “You come from a family


true for the whole is of doctors and
true for its parts intellectuals! Surely you
can do better in this
course!”

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