Fallacies of Ambiguity
Define and give an example of the Repetition fallacy
a fallacy of ambiguity that uses repetition to bypass a discussion fo the truth or falsity of a proposition
"Vote Trump, Vote Trump, Vote Trump"
Define argument
a set of statements, one of which (the conclusion) seems to be implied or supported by the others (the premises)
What two things does each syllogistic form contain?
A mood and figure
Define validity
Related to form; when the premises are presumed to be true, the conclusion must be true
Define "distributed term"
The term that refers to all members of its category
Define and give an example of the Accent fallacy
a fallacy of ambiguity that sneakily changes the sense of a sentence by means of where the emphasis is placed
"Paul didn't write his epistle to the Romans." (he dictated it to Tertius)
a deductive argument with two premises and three terms
Identify the form of the syllogism:
No P is M
Some S is M
:. Some S is not P
EIO-2
What does it mean if a syllogism is sound?
Its premises and conclusion are both true
Name all 6 fallacies of form that indicate broken rules for syllogisms
fallacy of undistributed middle
fallacy of illicit major
fallacy of illicit minor
fallacy of two negative premises
fallacy of a negative premise with an affirmative conclusion
fallacy of two affirmative premises with a negative conclusion
Define and give an example of the Distinction without a Difference fallacy
a fallacy of ambiguity that uses a synonym or restatement to exempt itself from an opponent's charge
abortion isn't killing a baby! its the elimination of unwanted fetal cells
Where does the major term appear in a standard categorical syllogism?
In the first (major) premise and as the predicate of the conclusion
Write a schema for the form AOO-3
All M is P
Some M is not S
:. Some S is not P
What are the necessary components of a counterexample?
- same form as the original syllogism
- clearly true premises
- a clearly false conclusion
Identify the fallacies committed in the following syllogism.
Some politicians are corrupt men
Some corrupt men are mafia members
Therefore, some politicians are mafia members
fallacy of undistributed middle
Define and give an example of the Exigency fallacy
a fallacy of ambiguity that attempts to persuade solely or primarily on the basis of a limited time frame
Temu countdown timers before a "sale" ends
Where does the minor term appear in a standard categorical syllogism?
In the second (or minor) premise and as the subject of the conclusion
Identify the form of the syllogism
No P is M
All M is S
:. Some S is not P
EAO-4
Provide a counterexample to show the invalidity of the form OOO-2
Some men are not women
Some humans are not women
Some men are not human
Identify the fallacies committed in the following syllogism.
No street legal vehicles are stock cars
All stock cars are racing cars
Therefore, no racing car is a street legal vehicle
Fallacy of illicit minor
Explain the difference between the Equivocation and Amphiboly fallacies
Equivocation: ambiguity in a key word
Amphiboly: ambiguity in a phrase or sentence
Where does the middle term appear in a standard categorical syllogism?
In both premises, but not in the conclusion
Identify the form of the syllogism
All Students are geniuses
Some blondes are students
Consequently, some blondes are geniuses
AII-1
Provide a counterexample to show the invalidity of the form AAO-2
All mammals are animals
All dolphins are animals
Therefore some dolphins are not mammals
Draw the chart for the distributed and undistributed terms of each of the 4 categorical statements
A D U
E D D
I U U
O U D
Explain the difference between the Loaded Question and Selective Arrangement fallacies
Loaded Question: adding in an unproven assumption to a question
Selective Arrangement: leaving out facts that do not fit with a presupposed conclusion
Identify the Conclusion of the argument:
All coffee comes from the coffea plant and some coffea plants are grown in Colombia. So some coffee comes from Colombia
Some coffee comes from Colombia
Write a schema for the form IOA-3
Some M is P
Some M is not S
:. All S is P
Prove the invalidity by creating a counterexample:
No epic poems are works of great artistry. Hence, given that no nursery rhymes are works of great artistry, Some nursery rhymes are epic poems
EEI-2
No humans are plants
No dogs are plants
Therefore some dogs are humans
Identify the fallacies committed in the following syllogism.
Some Baptists are not Presbyterians
No Nazarene is a Baptist
Therefore, all Nazarenes are Presbyterians
Fallacy of two negative premises
Fallacy of negative premise and affirmative conclusion
Explain the difference between the fallacy of Composition and the fallacy of Division
Composition: assuming something that is true of the parts is true of the whole
Division: assuming something that is true of the whole is true of the parts
Identify the conclusion in the argument:
All dogs are big animals, since all big animals are mammals, and some dogs are mammals.
All dogs are big animals.
Write an example of a syllogism with the form AOO-2
Some poets are not mariners
Therefore, some sailors are not poets
Prove the invalidity by creating a counterexample:
All paper is a physical object
Some books are not paper
Therefore all books are physical objects
All moms are females
Some men are not moms
Therefore all males are females
Identify the fallacies committed in the following syllogism.
All saints are Christians
Some Christians are men
Therefore, some men are not saints
Fallacy of undistributed middle
Fallacy of two affirmative premises and a negative conclusion
Define and give an example of the No True Scotsman fallacy
a fallacy of distraction that eliminates an exception to a presupposed generalization by dismissing the exception without justification
If Candace Owens was really black, she would have voted Democrat in the 2024 election
Write a schema for a standard categorical syllogism
All P are M
Some M are S
:. No S are P
Write an example of a syllogism with the form OAO-4
Some pirates are not seafarers
All seafarers are humans
Therefore, some pirates are not humans
Name any valid syllogistic form
AAA-1 AEE-2 AII-3 AEE-4
EAE-1 EAE-2 IAI- 3 IAI-4
AII-1 EIO-2 OAO-3 EIO-4
EIO-1 AOO-2 EIO- 3 AEO-4
AAI-1 AEO-2 AAI-3 EAO-4
EAO-1 EAO-2 EAO-3 AAI-4
Give an example of a syllogism that commits a fallacy of an undistributed middle and two negative premises
OOO-3
Some apples are not granny smiths
Some apples are not red delicious
Therefore some granny smiths are not red delicious