Fallacies
a person's character or motive is attacked instead of that person's argument
What is an ad hominem fallacy?
an extravagant exaggeration of fact, used either for serious or comic effect
What is hyperbole?
exploration of a problem by investigating all sides of it; persuasion through reason
What is argumentation?
a comparison between two things in which the more complex is explained in terms of the more simple
What is an analogy?
something that stands for another thing, frequently an object used to represent an abstraction
What is a symbol?
opposing views are characterized as “non-starters,” lifeless, untrue, and wholly unreliable so that by comparison the other position looks valid
What is a straw man fallacy?
deliberately representing something as much less than it really is
What is understatement?
examination of the causes and/or effects of a situation or phenomenon
What is cause and effect reasoning?
the use of a word or phrase that is less direct, but that is also less distasteful or less offensive than another
What is a euphemism?
the way in which something is viewed or considered by a writer or speaker
What is point of view?
a statement is made or a conclusion is drawn that does not follow logically from what preceded it
What is a non sequitur?
a method of humorous or sarcastic expression in which the intended meaning of the words is the opposite of their usual meaning
What is irony?
form of reasoning that begins with a generalization, then applies the generalization to a specific case or cases
What is deductive reasoning?
contradictory terms or ideas are combined into a single phrase
What is an oxymoron?
a way of wording or expressing things that expresses the speaker's attitude toward her/his subject
What is tone?
assumes as true the very thing that one is trying to prove
What is begging the question?
a literary composition which imitates the characteristic style of a serious work/writer to treat trivial, nonsensical material in an attempt at humor or satire
What is parody?
a form of reasoning which works from a body of fact to the formulation of a generalization
What is inductive reasoning?
one thing is compared to another by being spoken of as though it were that thing
What is a metaphor?
a brief reference to a person, place, event, or passage in a work of literature or the Bible assumed to be sufficiently well-known to be recognized by the reader
What is an allusion?
using an alleged authority as evidence when the authority is not really an authority on the relevant facts
What is an appeal to false authority?
use of ridicule, sarcasm, irony, etc. to expose/reform vices, abuses, etc.
What is rhetorical satire?
a form of reasoning in which two statements or premises are made and a logical conclusion drawn from them
All men are mortal.
Socrates is a man.
Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
What is a syllogism?
an inanimate object or abstract concept is endowed with human traits
What is personification?
lively descriptions which impress the images of things upon the mind and appeal to the five senses
What is imagery?