logic tagged posts

LOGICAL FALLACIES

2 main types: fallacies of distraction           fallacies of form

Fallacies of Distraction:

Ipse dixit:        “he said it himself”. Appeal to authority.  – Citing a source or person because they have some aspect of authority (education, position, etc) which has no bearing on their ability to speak to the issue at hand.

Ad populum:      “bandwagon” appeal to popular opinion or practice. Numbers do not make something right or wrong.

Ad baculum:        “to the stick” concede or suffer – Appealing to someone’s fear or vulnerability to influence their position.

Ad hominem:      “to the man” personal attack – Criticize the messenger instead of evaluating the message on its own merits...

The Law of Non-contradiction:

            Two opposing things cannot both be correct simultaneously.

            One question cannot correctly elicit two opposing answers at the same time under the same circumstances.

Truth:

            Truth, by definition, is not subjective. It does not change, or cease.

            A false beginning (premise) cannot be used to justify a conclusion.

Relativism:

Invocation of moral law requires a moral law setter. “Every man for himself” invalidates any objection to any individual’s behaviour based on wrongness.