Logical Fallacies

Socratic Logic - Simple Apprehension

 

The following are the notes I have taken from Peter Kreeft's wonderful Socratic Logic textbook. I highly recommend you buy it. This is a book which deals with classical logic (as opposed to modern symbolic logic.) It is easily the best overall book on logic I have ever read and one of the few I have that are worth making notes from. I even have a small duotang with these notes in it I can carry around and reference on a regular basis.

 

The textbook splits up fallacies into seven groups:

I. Fallacies of Language

II. Fallacies of Diversion

III. Fallacies of Oversimplification

IV. Fallacies of Argumentation

V. Fallacies of Induction

VI. Procedural Fallacies

VII. Metaphysical Fallacies

 

Fallacies of Language

A. Equivocation

B. Amphiboly

C. Accent

D. Slanting

E. Slogans

F. Hyperbole

G. "Straw Man"

 

 

Fallacies of Diversion

 

A. Ad Hominem (Appeal to the Person)

1. Poisoning the Well

2. Tu Quoque - "You Too"

3. The Genetic Fallacy

 

B. Ad verecundium

 

C. Ad Baculum

 

D. Ad misericordiam

 

E. Ad igominium

 

F. Ad populum

1. Flattery

2. Identification

3. The polls say

4. Appeal to prejudice

5. Snob appeal

6. The Big Lie

 

G. Ad ignorantiam

 

 

Fallacies of Oversimplication

 

A. Dictosimpliciter

B. "Special Case"

C. Division

D. The Black and White Fallacy

E. Composition

F. Quoting Out of Context

G. Sterotyping

 

Fallacies of Argumentation

 

A. Non Sequitur - It Does Not Follow

B. Ignoratio Elenchi - Irrelevant Conclusion

C. Petitio Principi - Begging the Question

D. Complex Question

E. Arguing in a Circle

F. Contradictory Premises

G. False Assumption

 

Fallacies of Induction

A. Hasty Generalization

B. Post hoc, ergo prompter hoc - After it, therefore caused by it

C. Hypothesis Contrary to Fact

D. False Analogy

E. Argument from Silence

F. Selective Evidence

G. Slanting the Question

 

Procedural Fallacies

A. Refuting an Argument by Refuting Its Conclusion

B. Assuming that Refuting an Argument Disproves Its Conclusion

C. Ignoring an Argument

D. Substituting Explanations for Proof

E. Answering Another Argument than the One Given

F. Shifting the Burden of Proof

G. Winning an Argument but Losing the Arguer

 

Metaphysical Fallacies

A. Fallacy of Misplaced Concreteness

B. Fallacy of Accident

C. Confusing Quantity with Quality

D. Reductionism - Confusing Form with Matter

E. Confusing the Logical, Psychological and Physical "Because"

F. Existential Fallacy - Confusing Essence with Existence

G. Confusing Natural with Common

 

 

 

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