Transcript #1 – Appeal To Authority

#1 – Appeal To Authority
Person A is (claimed to be) an authority
on subject S.
Person A makes claim C about subject S.
Therefore, C is true.
If someone asks an authority (authority
meaning in this case, an expert) figure a
question, it could be a fallacy if the
person is bias, not an expert, or hasn’t
experienced it.
For example, a snake specialist at the
zoo tells “George” that backpacks weigh
too heavy for kids to wear and it will ruin
their backs in the future, and then
“George” believes it.
#8 Appeal to Fear
Definition: Using fear or a
threat to persuade
someone into doing or
believing something
Example: "You know, Mr.
Conn, I really need to get
an A in this class. I'd like
to stop by during your
office hours later to
discuss my grade. I'll be in
your building anyways,
visiting my father. He's
your dean, by the way. I'll
see you later." –Brooke
Norling
#24 False Dilemma


False Dilemma is when
you claim that one thing
is true because of
something else that is
false.
Example: "Look, you are
going to have to make
up your mind. Either
you decide that you can
afford this stereo, or
you decide you are
going to do without
music for a while.” –
Chris Rogers

Zach Kutlow
Division

The fallacy of Division is committed when a
person infers that what is true of a whole must also be
true of its constituents and justification for that
inference is not provided.
"The ball is blue, therefore the atoms that make it up are also blue.
"Bill lives in a large building, so his apartment must be large.
"Sodium chloride (table salt) may be safely eaten. Therefore its
constituent elements, sodium and chloride, may be safely eaten."
Fallacies In Composition
By: Sarah Riccitelli
Definition
Fallacy= A misconception resulting from
incorrect reasoning
 Fallacy In Composition=When an
assumption is made on a whole group, or
class of things, based on a sample of the
characteristics of a few individuals.

Example

The papers are full of stories about major
athletes using steroids to win. Athletes
simply can not compete without using
steroids.
ATHLETES-STEROIDS FALLACY- ACTUAL SITUATION
Athletes
Athletes who
use steroids
FALLACY
Competitive
Athletes
(Winners)
Uncompetitive Athletes
(Losers)
Genetic Fallacy
The origin of a claim or thing is presented.
The claim is true/(or false) or the thing is
supported (or discredited).
"Bill claims that 1+1=2. However, my parents
brought me up to believe that 1+1=347, so Bill
must be wrong."
Jake Friedman
Definition: This fallacy is committed when
it is assumed that the middle position
between two extremes must be correct
simply because it is the middle position.
By Kelsey Santamaria
Example: Mr.
Jadadadada has a tree
in his backyard. Mrs.
Guala says his tree is
killing her petunias so
she tells him to cut it
down. Mr. Jadadadada
doesn’t want to cut
down his tree.
Eventually it is decided
for only half of Mr.
Jadadadada’s tree to
be cut down. Since he
wants it and she
doesn’t, half must be
correct because it is a
compromise.
Mr. Jadadadada
Appeal to Flattery
Jessica Green
Flattery is presented in the place of
evidence for accepting a claim.
Example:
“Wow mom, you
look so skinny
today, may I
please get a raise
in allowance and
new rims for my
car?”
You look so
skinny
mom!!!
Questionable Cause
By: Rachel Prather
Period 4
What is a Questionable Cause?

The general idea behind this fallacy is that
it is an error in reasoning to conclude that
one thing causes another simply because
the two are associated on a regular basis.
More formally, this fallacy is committed
when it is concluded that A is the cause of
B simply because they are associated on a
regular basis. The error being made is that
a causal conclusion is being drawn from
inadequate evidence.

(http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/questionable-cause.html)
For Example…

Little Sally is on myspace and she decides to
open a bulletin. The bulletin states that if the
reader doesn’t repost it they will have an
accident. Scoffing at the bulletin, Sally shuts off
the computer and goes to sleep. The next day
little Sally crosses the street and gets hit by a
car and breaks her arm. As soon as she gets
home from the hospital she reposts the bulletin
100 times in order to protect herself from further
accidents.
Visually…

Little Sally browsing
myspace
Presenting unfavorable information about
person A to person B, who has yet to meet
person A, in order to create a bias
Ex. During a speech or
debate, you inform the
audience why the other
person is wrong before the
have a chance to speak.
darn
This fallacy is committed when a
person draws a conclusion about
a population from a biased sample
Biased Sample
Ex: If someone assumes
that every Asian is a poor
motor vehicle manipulator
after seeing one Asian
involved in an accident.
Hmm, this Asian crashed, so that must
mean that all Asians are bad drivers.
Burden
of
Proof
- When the burden of proof is on the wrong side
of the argument
or
- When Side A of an argument uses the lack of
evidence for side B as Side A's evidence
Fallacy #19
Chris McIntyre
Appeal to Emotion
Sam Mohan
Someone manipulates people’s emotions in order to get
them to accept the claim as being true
The new buns burner will turn that blubber into steel. No
longer troubled by your “extra” baggage, you can sport
your new beautiful buns of brilliance with a delightful
smile. Not only will you look amazing, but you’ll feel
amazing, as the eyes of others are drawn to that delicious
shake of steel. The buns burner: look great, feel even
better.
The
Gamblers Fallacy
The Gambler's Fallacy is committed when a
person assumes that a departure from what
occurs on average or in the long term will be
corrected in the short term.
Will is playing against Derrek in a WWII tank battle game. Derrek has had a great
"streak of luck" and has been killing Will's tanks left and right with good die rolls. Will,
who has a few tanks left, decides to risk all in a desperate attack on Derrek. He is a bit
worried that Derrek might wipe him out, but he thinks that since Derrek’s luck at rolling
has been great Derrek must be due for some bad dice rolls. Will launches his attack and
Derrek butchers his forces.

Begging the Question
aka Circular Reasoning
Giving evidence for a claim by assuming that it is true; assumption
is the evidence. Usually follows this form: "X is true. The evidence
for this claim is that X is true.”
"The belief in God is universal. After all, everyone believes in
God.”
Lauren Zeidler
Appeal to
Authority
Definition- When the person in
question is not a legitimate
authority on the subject Brett
Nieman
Example- When Cartman tells
everyone to RESPECT HIS
AUTHORITY for no reason
Ad Misericordiam
(Appeal to Pity)
An appeal to pity is when a person
uses a claim intended to cause pity
instead of real evidence as their
argument.
"I should receive an 'A' in this class. If I do
not get an 'A' I will not get the internship
I want."
Amelia Meier
Slippery Slope (Camel’s Nose)
Definition: A fallacy which
assumes that taking a first step
will lead to subsequent steps that
cannot be prevented.
Example: "You can never
give anyone a break. If you
do, they'll walk all over you."
By Erik Anderson
1. Event X has occurred
(or might occur.)
2. Therefore event Y will
inevitably happen
Appeal to Common
Practice
Definition: When most people do a common
action, it is used as “evidence” to support the
action or practice.
Example: “Sure, some people buy into that
equality crap. However, we know that everyone
pays women less than men. It’s okay, too. Since
everyone does it, it can’t really be wrong.”
Picture: Even if “everyone”
is cheating on a test, it
doesn’t make it moral or
justified.
Hasty Generalization
Definition- This fallacy is committed when a
person draws a conclusion about a population
based on a sample that is not large enough
Example- “I met a feminist who hated men,
so all feminists must hate men.”
Straw Man: A Fallacy
Kyle Stewart
P-4
Definition

When a person simply ignores a person's
actual position and substitutes a distorted,
exaggerated or misrepresented version of
that position
(http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/straw-man.html)
Example

Mr. Conn:

Purposely nameless and faceless student:
In this class we are going to write an
essay once a week so you are well
prepared for the AP test.
Man, I hate writing pointless essays every
day.
Graphic Representation
(http://www-personal.umich.edu/~lilyth/cartoon/mrdid.jpg)
Appeal to Novelty
The belief that simply because
something is new, it is right.
Example: Robot dancing is the new hip craze, therefore it
will bring about world peace.
Shealyn Hindenlang
Special Pleading
~imposing standards/beliefs and rules upon another but
considering oneself exempt without an adequate explanation
Example:
Please don’t harrass, kick, abuse, caress, poke, prod,
molest, ruffle, punch, pester, bother, or touch the
animals. All touching rights are reserved for me,
because I have magic fingers. Oooooo!
Natalie Lowell
Fallacies:
Confusing Cause and Effect
This
fallacy is committed when a person draws the conclusion that A
is the cause of B simply because the events A and B occur together.
The mistake being made is that the causal conclusion is being drawn
without adequate justification.
Example: It is claimed by some
people that severe illness is
caused by depression and anger.
After all, people who are severely
ill are very often depressed and
angry. Thus, it follows that the
cause of severe illness actually is
the depression and anger. So, a
good and cheerful attitude is key
to staying healthy.
By Katie Teare
Misleading Vividness is a fallacy in
which a very small number of
particularly dramatic events are taken
to outweigh a significant amount of
statistical evidence.
Bill: one day I was walking and I tripped and fell on my face,
then a bird came an pooped on me, then I got stepped on by
a very heavy man with track shoes on (the ones with spikes
on the bottom), then it started to rain and I got really wet and
then I was struck by lightning. So I’m never going to walk
again!
Bob: wow what is the probability of that, I bet it will never
happen again. I wouldn't worry about it.
Bill: no way your crazy man that type of thing could happen
to any one any second.
By: Ben Stillinger
Description of Appeal to
Consequences of a Belief
Definition
Examples
1. X is true/false because
if people did not
accept X as true/false
then there would be
negative consequences.
1. “I don’t think there will be a nuclear war. If I
believed that, I wouldn’t be able to get up in
the morning. I mean, how depressing.”
2. X is true/false because
if X is true/false there
will be positive
consequences.
3. I wish that X was
true/false, therefore X
is true/ false. This is
also known as wishful
thinking.
2. I have a great desire for Amelie Mauresmo to
be the greatest tennis player, therefore, I accept
her as the greatest tennis player.
=
Scott Heyman
By Katie McConnell
A relativist fallacy occurs when
someone rejects a claim by
asserting that the claim may be true
for others….but not necessarily for
them.
UGH! THE FORCES
OF GAVITY MAKE STUFF
FALL…stuff like bad
skiers like me...ahhh
Well, gravity
may affect
everything, but
it doesn’t affect
MEEE
Mmmkay I’m
done.