informal fallacies a very brief introduction

INFORMAL FALLACIESA VERY BRIEF INTRODUCTIONL. MayEnglish 101

INFORMAL LOGICAL FALLACIES

See video “What is a fallacy? (Informal Fallacy)”

INFORMAL LOGICAL FALLACIES

First, a note by way of preface:

There is nothing wrong with believing or not believing something. Sometimes we have reasons for our belief beyond what is “rational” or provable in scientific terms.

INFORMAL LOGICAL FALLACIES

But when writers want to use LOGOS (logic and reasoning) to persuade their readers, they must pay attention so as to make sure their logic is sound.

Fallacious thinking will only weaken one’s argument.

HASTY GENERALIZATION

DEFINITION: By far one of the most common fallacies,

“hasty generalization” occurs when we base a conclusion on insufficient evidence.

HASTY GENERALIZATION

EXAMPLE 1: “I’ve never known any atheists who were good people, therefore atheism leads to immorality.”

HASTY GENERALIZATION

EXAMPLE 2: “I’ve seen those preachers on TV. Their greed just proves that Christianity is bunk.”

HASTY GENERALIZATION

EXAMPLE 3: “The 9/11 terrorists were all religious. Therefore, religion is the primary source of terrorism.”

EXAMPLE 4: “The 9/11 terrorists were not truly religious. Therefore, religion has nothing to do with terrorism.”

HASTY GENERALIZATION

EXAMPLE 5: “Every single Christian I’ve ever met was unable to explain their faith in clear terms. This just goes to show that Christianity is irrational.”

APPEAL TO THE POPULAR VIEW

DEFINITION: This fallacy occurs when we assume that

something is true based not on evidence but on the fact that many people believe it is true.

APPEAL TO THE POPULAR VIEW

EXAMPLE1: “For with the exception of a few in whom nature is excessively depraved, the whole human race confesses God to be author of the world.” (St. Augustine, 3rd Century C.E.)

APPEAL TO THE POPULAR VIEW

EXAMPLE 2: “It is widely recognized by researchers as well as laypeople that religion is beneficial to one’s psychological and physical health. Since this belief is so widely held, there can be little doubt of its accuracy.”

APPEAL TO IGNORANCE

DEFINITION: This fallacy occurs when we say

basically, “Look, there’s no conclusive evidence on the issue at hand. Therefore, you should accept my conclusion on this issue.”

APPEAL TO IGNORANCE

EXAMPLE 1: “People have been trying for centuries to prove that God exists. But no one has yet been able to prove it. Therefore, God does not exist.”

APPEAL TO IGNORANCE

EXAMPLE 2: “People have been trying for years to prove that God does not exist. But no one has yet been able to prove it. Therefore, God does exist.”

APPEAL TO IGNORANCE

EXAMPLE 3: “I can’t believe that the medium figured all that stuff out about me without spiritual aid. He must be in touch with the paranormal.”

APPEAL TO PERSONAL INCREDULITY APPEAL TO PERSONAL CREDULITY

DEFINITION: These fallacies occur when we argue

that something is not true because we ourselves can or cannot believe it.

APPEAL TO PERSONAL INCREDULITY APPEAL TO PERSONAL CREDULITY

EXAMPLE 1: “I cannot imagine how an all-powerful, all-good God can allow suffering. Therefore, God does not exist.”

APPEAL TO PERSONAL INCREDULITY APPEAL TO PERSONAL CREDULITY

EXAMPLE 2: “I read stories in Genesis about God killing the Egyptian first-born. I can’t believe that God would kill anyone. Therefore, God does not exist.”

APPEAL TO PERSONAL INCREDULITY APPEAL TO PERSONAL CREDULITY

EXAMPLE 3: “I see the stars and the galaxies, and I can’t imagine this could all be created without a Creator. Therefore, the God of the Bible exists.”

ARGUMENT AGAINST THE PERSON

DEFINITION: This fallacy occurs when we avoid

addressing the actual evidence and/or reasoning and simply argue that something about the person making the argument indicates that the argument cannot be valid.

ARGUMENT AGAINST THE PERSON

EXAMPLE 1: “Evolutionary biology is something promoted by materialistic, atheistic, Secular Humanists in our schools in order to undermine Christianity.”

ARGUMENT AGAINST THE PERSON

EXAMPLE 2: “Christianity isn’t true. You just believe in Christianity because you were brought up in a Christian home. If you were brought up in the Islam religion, you would be a Muslim now.”

ARGUMENT AGAINST THE PERSON

EXAMPLE 3: “Creation isn’t true. You just believe in creation because you read that stuff on the Answers in Genesis website.”

But remember…

There is nothing wrong with believing or not believing something. Sometimes we have reasons for our belief beyond what is “rational” or provable in scientific terms.

But remember…

But when writers want to use LOGOS (logic and reasoning) to persuade their readers, they must pay attention so as to make sure their logic is sound.

Fallacious thinking will only weaken one’s argument.

Questions/Discussions Do you detect any logical

fallacies…

in Sharon Neely’s “A case for faith”?

in Tyler Francke’s “Faith serves to complement reason”?