Questions tagged [fallacies]
Concerns formal (syllogistic) fallacies, informal (rhetorical) fallacies, tactical misdirection, and errors in logic or reasoning more broadly put.
778
questions
10
votes
7
answers
4k
views
Is it a fallacy to argue "Once a thief, always a thief"?
I was looking online to see if this argument was a fallacy, but I couldn't find anything. It reminds me of the problem of induction, whereby one cannot predict what the future holds based on past ...
8
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Is there a term for a fallacy in which one believes something to be divinely inspired due to being improbable?
Consider the following argument:
I have been born on Earth, during a time of relative prosperity. The probability that I was born at this moment, of all moments, is very small. Therefore, this is ...
- 183
1
vote
1
answer
81
views
Are there any fallacies in this argument from unique characterization?
Suppose I have millions of events that I’ve come across in my life. One of those events seem unique in the sense that no other event seems similar to it. Every other event seems to have events similar ...
- 8,308
3
votes
2
answers
256
views
Is probabilistic modus tollens a fallacy?
Modus tollens takes the form of "If P, then Q. Not Q. Therefore, not P."
A probabilistic version of Modus Tollens says "If P, then Q is very improbable. Q. Therefore, P is very ...
- 8,308
5
votes
2
answers
581
views
Which philosophers have considered irrational conviction
It seems a characteristic of humans to be convinced about a matter in the absence of overwhelming evidence, even where logic suggests that are other valid alternative positions to take. We see this in ...
- 13.5k
1
vote
1
answer
239
views
What exactly is the difference between fallacy and sophistry?
I have read somewhere that sophistry is deliberate and fallacy is non-deliberate; is it correct?
I have also seen in some places that these two are used for the same purpose.
Finally, what is the ...
3
votes
0
answers
77
views
Do use/mention errors actually happen?
It is commonplace to see warnings in introductory philosophy texts about not confusing use and mention, but I can't imagine how any reasonably analytical thinker could make such an error, so I've ...
- 7,598
2
votes
3
answers
78
views
What is the name for the mistake wherein an ostensible explanation/cause fails to account for its own explanation/cause?
For example, describing the cause for life as aliens seeding it fails to account for the the cause of the aliens that did the seeding.
The explanation that something is "art" because it's ...
- 123
4
votes
3
answers
194
views
Why do Western English-language philosophers(people*.) mostly present ideas(thoughts*) in a formal way? Linguistics, culture, thinking process, else?
By formal I mean, unable to understand an idea, because of mistakes or logical fallacies that don't truly reflect on the idea itself.
When someone talks to you, it's possible to look not at sentence ...
- 533
9
votes
4
answers
3k
views
What kind of a logical fallacy is giving an example from the past - in order to justify present unjustice?
I was wondering what kind of fallacy is giving an example that occurred in the past, and thus saying we don't need to worry about the present as the same or worse happened in the past. I would like to ...
5
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Cause-effect fallacy
Person A: "Why is 1 + 1 = 2?"
Person B: "Because if you collect one apple, and then collect
another apple, 1 apple + 1 apple = 2 apples, so you now have 2 apples
in total"
The ...
user63990
1
vote
0
answers
140
views
Why is "appeal to nature" a fallacy?
Appeal to nature states that just because something is natural doesn't mean it is right (ethical). Morality is not objective but the existence of this fallacy attempts to objectively define morality ...
user63990
4
votes
2
answers
977
views
The term "ad hominem" used as "appeal to authority", and tradition in argument classification
I saw the claim that an appeal to authority was an "ad hominem". This contradicts how I have always seen the two terms used. I am interested in if there is a tradition in "argument ...
- 141
2
votes
3
answers
202
views
Identifying a Logical Fallacy (written by Bertrand Russell?)
I'm struggling and googled but cannot find something that's in the recesses of my mind.
Bertrand Russell (I think) described a logical fallacy where one could describe the same behavior / ...
- 133
-2
votes
2
answers
109
views
Why is a rare but unique kind of event seen as more surprising as a rare but common kind of event?
If the question sounds confusing, allow me to illustrate two examples of events.
First example: You think of a number between 1 and 1000. 1000 different people all guess it. One of them gets it right.
...
- 8,308
0
votes
1
answer
200
views
Is the inverse gambler’s fallacy charge against the multiverse accurate?
A common reason for why people came up with the multiverse hypothesis was that they couldn’t fathom that a single universe, if it is all that exists, bears the constants necessary to eventually result ...
- 8,308
1
vote
2
answers
77
views
What is the difference between appearing to be sentient and able to make personal subjective statements and being sentient
It is not long that some will suppose AI has become alive but we must question, what is the difference between appearing sentient and able to act out of one's own will and able to make personal ...
- 353
0
votes
5
answers
306
views
Fallacy and Conclusion
Idk where else to ask so sorry if I am wrong to ask here...But this place seems fitting.
A Fallacy, both formal and informal is/are error in the reasoning to reach a conclusion for an argument/point/...
21
votes
9
answers
3k
views
What is this fallacy: Perfection is impossible, therefore imperfection should be overlooked
This is a pretty common fallacious statement that people make every now and then.
Point me to any software that has been released without bugs? I
think your expectations might be a tad high.
It's ...
- 319
0
votes
1
answer
40
views
Is there a fallacy related to conceptual ambiguity?
Consider we have a statement that is perhaps true for one specific meaning of a particular word (or one particular conception of a concept) in its formulation. There may be consequences that flow ...
- 141
-1
votes
1
answer
80
views
How is this an example of a catch-22? [closed]
This was given as an example of a catch-22:
How is the graphic on the right an example of a catch-22? “If you don’t love yourself, how can you love anyone else?” “If no one loves you, how can you ...
- 275
4
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Does this argument qualify as whataboutism?
(Moved from Politics.SE)
Alice and Bob are two students who are habitual cheaters.
Alice to Bob: You really should stop cheating on your exams.
Bob to Alice: I'll stop cheating if you stop cheating ...
- 201
8
votes
4
answers
3k
views
What is the meaning of “to fight a Catch-22 is to accept it”?
From Wikipedia, it says “Catch-22s often result from rules, regulations, or procedures that an individual is subject to, but has no control over, because to fight the rule is to accept it.” What ...
- 275
2
votes
2
answers
105
views
Invalidating argument by being unable to distinguish the basic terms
What is the exact name of the logical fallacy, where one invalidates the arguments by claiming that the terms on which the argument is built are indistinguishable, e.g.:
You have stated that politics ...
- 1,543
0
votes
4
answers
184
views
Is butterfly effect always happening?
You are sitting at front of house with warm tea. Right when you drinking it with glass, there is vehicle accident at street of front house.
If you didn't drink it at that time before, will the ...
2
votes
1
answer
82
views
If 75 degrees Fahrenheit is the temperature outside, and the temperature outside is rising, is 75 degrees Fahrenheit rising? [closed]
75 degrees Fahrenheit is static. It cannot rise or fall. The statement is valid since a=b and b=c so a=c. The premises can be true.
My friend asked me this question and I believe it's an association ...
3
votes
4
answers
125
views
Is the implication that making consistently bad decisions must be intentional a logical fallacy?
This is the argument:
If someone makes consistently bad decisions, then it must be intentional, because if you were to make decisions at random, some of them would be good.
At first, I found this ...
- 85
3
votes
1
answer
87
views
Is it irrational to care more about the last candy in the bag than the others, and if so, does the fallacy have a name?
I have a bag of candies. Someone else asks if they can have one. If the bag is still full, I have no issues, and tell them they are welcome to take one. If there is only one left in the bag, I am much ...
- 133
0
votes
3
answers
90
views
Is there a logical fallacy for citing a single counter example which is not generally representative?
Example:
A: buildings in the US are generally safe. Structural engineers have to stamp the designs before a certificate of occupancy is issued so you can usually be assured that there won’t be any ...
-1
votes
1
answer
54
views
Probability based on insufficient data [closed]
The probability of some event is sometimes calculated or estimated based on insufficient empirical data, or scientific models that don't or can't take into account the major contributing factors.
The ...
- 99
1
vote
3
answers
186
views
What do we explictly refer to in mathematical expressios
My friend has a theory about 'instantiation' of numbers, they believe that every time we think of a number we create an 'instance' of it in our own heads, it's the same idea, but each time we think, ...
- 1,073
4
votes
5
answers
2k
views
What is the relation between abductive reasoning and fallacy?
According to WP's article on abductive reasoning:
[A]bduction is formally equivalent to the logical fallacy of affirming the consequent [citation needed] because of multiple possible explanations for ...
- 1,157
2
votes
1
answer
546
views
Difference between fallacies and biases
What is the basic difference between biases, such as confirmation bias, anchoring bias, etc., and fallacies such as argumentum ad antiquitatem, argumentum ad hominem, argumentum ad ignorantiam, etc.? ...
- 1,157
0
votes
2
answers
105
views
Sunk cost fallacy without considering abandonment
I am looking for the term used to describe this scenario. It's similar to the cost sunk fallacy -I think-.
Let's say you have a bunch of teams going through some pain every day. There is a solution, ...
- 101
2
votes
4
answers
133
views
What is the fallacy that claims a hypothesis/theory is false because we don't know something about it?
What is the fallacy called, when discussing two opposing points of view, where one person tries to exploit the gap the other person's knowledge to try and prove their own point?
i.e. When Zack and ...
- 345
15
votes
9
answers
6k
views
Is there a name for this fallacy when someone says something is good by only pointing out the good things?
A person says that a politician "Jane Doe" is good because he increased the education budget.
(but in reality, Jane doe is also corrupt & racist, whose bad policies lead to the downfall ...
- 275
4
votes
9
answers
3k
views
Does absence of evidence mean evidence of absence?
I've often heard a phrase used in argumentation, but I'm not sure what it means. Does absence of evidence mean evidence of absence in philosophy?
- 1,157
1
vote
2
answers
83
views
Does this statement constitute various fallacies? Is my delineation correct?
Person 1:"Man, J____, M____, and L____ tend to work at a cumbersome pace."
Person 2:"Yeah, they're lazy, obviously"*
LJ, M & L share similar characteristics in terms of skin ...
- 11
17
votes
7
answers
4k
views
What type of fallacy is it when people in undeveloped countries claim something it's true, because developed countries do it?
A fallacy that we hear a lot here in undeveloped countries, and which is so deeply annoying, it's that something is true because the developed countries do it. It's particularly annoying because many ...
- 297
1
vote
5
answers
514
views
Logical Fallacies: Difference between Appeal to popularity and Appeal to Authority
What is the difference between Ad populum and Ad Verecundiam? I googled a lot but didn't find any discrete difference between them.
- 21
2
votes
3
answers
545
views
Name of fallacy: amplifying weakness of weak arguments while ignoring strong ones
Is the following tactic a sort of known debating/argumentation fallacy, and does it have a name?
Bob and Rob debate a topic. Bob provides a number of points to support his position. Some are strong. ...
- 135
0
votes
1
answer
118
views
Name of the fallacy: "your argument is overly simplistic"
The structure is as follow:
Person A states argument X.
Person B says that things are not so simple to discredit argument X. A special case is when B argues that: "this-is-not-about-D", ...
- 277
15
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Name of the fallacy that "you don't know" implies "the media is hiding it from you"
A very common fallacy used by propagandists has the structure:
Person A presents fact X as support for a theory T that person A tries to prove, adding continuous suggestions about a conspiracy, but
...
- 277
0
votes
3
answers
368
views
Are multiple anecdotes still logically unsound?
We know that arguing from one anecdote is fallacious.
What about multiple anecdotes describing the same phenomenon? For example, using customer reviews to buy a product. Would this still be considered ...
- 103
4
votes
2
answers
196
views
If he wanted to, he would x (Logical Fallacy?)
Not sure if this is the correct stack site to post, but is this a fallacy & if so, which one?
Curious about this as this has been a trending saying lately.
If he wanted to, he would x (Logical ...
- 41
3
votes
4
answers
305
views
What fallacy is it to say because someone is a public servant, they are a servant of one member of the public?
In one of the Abbot & Costello show episode, the following dialogue occurs:
Abbot: Is it not true that you are a servant of the public?
Officer: Yes, I am servant of the public.
Abbot: I happen ...
- 31
0
votes
3
answers
358
views
Which kind of fallacy is a fallacy that associates a person to the negative ideas of a group he doesnt belong to?
There is 3 types of fallacies that comes to my mind for this,
Fallacy of straw man
A straw man (sometimes written as strawman) is a form of argument and
an informal fallacy of having the impression ...
- 297
2
votes
1
answer
436
views
Fallacy of division in an old book
I have identified a fallacy of division in an old book written in Spanish and I would like you to confirm if it is indeed a logical fallacy. The underlined part of the image contains the argument that ...
4
votes
6
answers
2k
views
How can something be intrinsically moral or immoral?
If nature were amoral, we, who come from nature, and everything we do would be amoral. Unless nature can be moral or immoral. My question would then be: how can something be intrinsically moral or ...
- 1,923
1
vote
7
answers
151
views
How it's possible to describe something if description itself is action that changes universe?
This is some sort of paradox or a fallacy and I want to make sense of it.
This is how I would formulate the problem. To describe Universe we need to take an action - to say the description, write it ...
- 11