FALLACIESEQUIVOCATIONn nA fallacy committed when some word (or group of words) is used in different senses.n nExample:n nIts not wrong for newspapers to pass on Its not wrong for newspapers to pass on rumoursrumours about sex scandals. Newspapers have a duty to print about sex scandals. Newspapers have a duty to print stories that are in the public interest, and the public stories that are in the public interest, and the public clearly has a great interest in clearly has a great interest in rumoursrumours about sex about sex scandals. scandals. TAN Yoo Guan and Mark NOWACKIFalse Dichotomy/ False Dilemman nA fallacy committed when an arguer presents as jointly exhaustive two alternatives that are in fact no so.n nExample:n nEither we stop all whaling or whales will become Either we stop all whaling or whales will become extinct. We certainly dont want whales to become extinct. We certainly dont want whales to become extinct. Therefore we must stop all whaling.extinct. Therefore we must stop all whaling. TAN Yoo Guan and Mark NOWACKICompositionn nA fallacy committed when an attribute of the parts is illegitimately transferred to the whole.n nEvery part of a thing X has property F.n nThing X has property F. TAN Yoo Guan and Mark NOWACKIExample nThe table is made of atoms and atoms are colourless. Therefore the table is colourless. TAN Yoo Guan and Mark NOWACKIDivisionn nA fallacy committed when an attribute of the whole is illegitimately transferred to the parts.n nThing X has property F.n nEvery part of a thing X has property F. TAN Yoo Guan and Mark NOWACKIExample n nPoverty isnt a problem for America because America is a rich country. TAN Yoo Guan and Mark NOWACKIArgument against the person/ Poisoning the welln nA fallacy committed when an arguer directs his or her attack against the opponent instead of the argument or position.n nExample:n nKen broke the vase, but he would not admit it. Ken broke the vase, but he would not admit it. Anyway, its just like him. The little coward. Anyway, its just like him. The little coward. TAN Yoo Guan and Mark NOWACKIFalse Cause/ Post Hocn nA fallacy that arises from treating as the cause of something that which is not really its cause. TAN Yoo Guan and Mark NOWACKIExamplen nThe Japanese, who eat a lot of fish, have longer average life expectancy than any other nation. Developed nations should therefore encourage their citizens to increase their consumption of fish so that on average their citizens live longer. TAN Yoo Guan and Mark NOWACKIRed Herringaka Smoke Screenn nA fallacy that occurs when the arguer diverts the attention of the listener by arguing for or addressing a different issue.n nExample:n nHarvard President Derek Harvard President Derek BokBok, justifying a tuition hike, justifying a tuition hike: : “If you think education is expensive, try “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.”ignorance.” TAN Yoo Guan and Mark NOWACKIComplex Questionn nA fallacy that occurs when a single question, which is really two questions, is asked, and a single answer demanded.n nExample:n nHave you stopped beating your husband?Have you stopped beating your husband? TAN Yoo Guan and Mark NOWACKIHasty Generalisationn nAn argument with too few supporting instances/ examples.n nExample:n nYou cant speak French. I cant speak French. You cant speak French. I cant speak French. Therefore nobody in NJC can speak French.Therefore nobody in NJC can speak French.Hypothesis Contrary to Fact/ Forced Hypothesisn nA conclusion based on an incorrect theory. Results from a failure to consider other possible explanation.n nExample:n nIf Einstein had not discovered atomic energy, Japan If Einstein had not discovered atomic energy, Japan would not have surrendered in World War Two and would not have surrendered in World War Two and we would still be living under Japanese rule.we would still be living under Japanese rule.Slippery Slopen nThe assumption that one step will inevitably lead to an undesirable second step. (think: avalanche/ snowballing effect getting carried away)n nExample:n nLegalisedLegalised abortion will lead to euthanasia. abortion will lead to euthanasia.Contradictory premisesn nWhen the premises of an argument contradict each other and there is no argument.n nExample:n nIf God can do anything, can HE make a stone so If God can do anything, can HE make a stone so heavy that HE wont be able to lift?heavy that HE wont be able to lift?n nGod is invincible God is invincible vsvs God can defeat himself God can defeat himselfAd Misericordiamn nAppealling to emotions, without addressing the issue.n nExamples:n nPlease donate. My little girl needs blood.n nI deserve to pass this course because Ive had a lot of problems at home.Begging the Questionn nTo assume part of the argument is true without supporting it.n nExample:n nKI is a waste of time. It should be made a non-KI is a waste of time. It should be made a non-compulsory subject. compulsory subject. Identify fallacies- Each of us has been teaching for more than 20 years. So together, our group has more than 100 years of teaching experience. TAN Yoo Guan and Mark NOWACKI- An elephant is an animal . So a small elephant is a small animal. TAN Yoo Guan and Mark NOWACKI- ASEAN will be made richer by a free-trade zone, so if some member states fail to welcome the removal of tariff barriers, either they fail to realise that they will benefit or they dont want to benefit. TAN Yoo Guan and Mark NOWACKI- Superstition can be a positive force. It gives you a sense of control by making you think you can work out whats going to happen next. And it makes you feel lucky and confident. To take a risk or to enter into a chancy situation, you really have to believe in your own luck. In that sense, its a very useful way of thinking, because the alternative is fatalism, which is to say, “Oh, theres nothing I can do.” At least superstition makes people do things. TAN Yoo Guan and Mark NOWACKI- The upsurge in crime on Sundays is the result of the reduced rate of church attendance in recent years.n nIf I were not on the hockey team, our school would not have lost the match today. Professor Reddings students have received either As or Bs last semester. He must be an excellent teacher.- Political life must lead many to excessive drinking. In the last six months, five members of Congress have confessed to alcoholism.- After the Hyatt Hotel changed the layout of its entrance by installing these angled doors, its business increased ten fold. Clearly geomancy is not nonsense. TAN Yoo Guan and Mark NOWACKIn nCensoring pornography will lead to the end of freedom for the press.n nA man applies for a job. When the potential employer asks him what his qualifications are, he replies that he has a wife and six children at home, that the wife is a helpless cripple, the children have nothing to eat, no clothes to wear, no shoes on their feet; there are no beds in the house, no coal in the cellar and winter is coming. n nIf teenage couples hug and kiss public, they will end up engaging in premarital sex.n nProfessor Johnson teaches in the Political Science Department. Ill bet shes just another socialist.nYou must do your homework or you will fail your exams. nEverything was doing fine until the lunar eclipse last month; thats why the economy is in trouble.n nMadam Belle, the animal lover is very rich and generous. She always pampers her friends with expensive gifts, so dont fret about not being able to afford that branded fur coat you have been eyeing. Let her know and I am sure she will buy it for you.n nWe admit that this measure is popular. But we also urge you to note that there are so many bond issues on this ballot that the whole thing is getting ridiculous. Acknowledgementsn nTAN Yoo Guan and Mark NOWACKI,2005